Mohammad Jamalian: Athlete Denied Return of His Remains - A Family Interview

Mohammad Jamalian, a 23-year-old award-winning athlete, was tortured and killed based on false testimony and was kept from his family, even in death.

Mohammad Jamalian

(photo credit: Courtesy Jamalian family)

ByDANYA SAPERSTEIN

JULY 9, 2026 16:00

Six months following Iran's January 8-9 crackdown, where opposition estimates and internal evidence suggest 35,000 to 40,000 fatalities, The Jerusalem Post profiles several victims through accounts from their relatives.

One such case involves 23-year-old Mohammad Jamalian, a skilled athlete who earned numerous national honors in kung fu, as shared by his mother.

Jamalian faced detention a month after the January demonstrations due to accusations from fellow prisoners extracted under duress, his mother explained to the Post.

Four days post-arrest, severe mistreatment led to his hospital admission, where he remained on life support for a month and regained awareness only briefly for two days.

Jamalian kept from his family, even in death

Although his mother secured official approval for a visit, access to his bedside was denied while he lay in a profound coma.

“They would not let me hold him in my arms, not even for a single minute. May God never forgive them,” his mother told the Post.

Jamalian passed away on March 20, 2026. Upon requesting his remains for proper burial, the family encountered threats and conditions requiring a formal grievance along with payment for his extended medical care.

“Out of fear and desperation, we did not file a complaint,” his mother said.

Without any grievance submitted, no official body has claimed accountability for the death.

“Our family has been completely devastated ever since. I myself have still not been able to come to terms with this pain,” his mother told the Post.

Jamalian was born on July 3, 2002.

“Just last Friday would have been his birthday,” his mother said.