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Afkari is said to have stabbed an official at a rally in August 2018 in the wake of protests across the country against the economic and political situation in Shiraz. According to the Judiciary, the fighter had confessed to the crime, but according to information from human rights organizations, the confession was obtained under torture. Amnesty International warned on Friday that Afkari’s “secret execution” was imminent. Two Afkaris brothers were sentenced to long prison terms.
Planned family reunions
According to Afkari’s lawyer, Hassan Junessi, a meeting with the family of the deceased was scheduled for Sunday to ask for their forgiveness. Under Iranian law, if the family members relented, the execution of the death penalty would have been invalidated. Junessi also pointed out that criminal law allows a prisoner sentenced to death to have one last meeting with his family. The lawyer denounced the speed with which the authorities executed his client in violation of his rights.
Verdict triggers global protests
The verdict had triggered a campaign of global solidarity. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was “shocked.” It was “deeply shocking” that pleas from athletes around the world and from international bodies did not stop the execution, the IOC said. “Our thoughts go out to Navid Afkari’s family and friends.” Wrestling is very popular in Iran and the country is one of the leading states in this Olympic discipline.
Pompeo condemns the execution “in the strongest”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the execution “strongly”. It was “a scandalous attack on human dignity, even by the despicable standards of this regime.” The voices of the Iranian people would not be silenced, Pompeo wrote on Twitter.
The international sports association “Global Athlete” called for sanctions on world sport for Iran. The human rights organization Amnesty International joined the call for consequences.
In London, people protested outside the Iranian embassy in London on Saturday. They carried posters with the crossed out faces of Iran’s president and spiritual leader.
(Quelle: What / Dpa / Ag.)
