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The international movement of athletes known as Global Athlete demanded that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Federation of Wrestling (UWW) expel Iran from their ranks following the execution of Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari on Saturday. The case attracted international attention and took over social media, with people around the world pushing to try to prevent the 27-year-old’s death. This Saturday, the government announced through its official media report that it executed the boy by hanging.
+ Fighter Navid Afkari Executed by Hanging Despite Global Pressure on Iran
– Rest in peace, Navid Afkari. We ask athletes for their solidarity in demanding that the International Olympic Committee and the UWW immediately implement sanctions that expel Iran from world sport for this heinous execution – said the Global Athlete publication.
The 27-year-old received two death sentences, one for allegedly stabbing to death a security guard and another for his participation in demonstrations against the country’s regime in 2018. Afkari claimed to have been tortured and forced to make a false confession, y Human rights groups and activists believe that he was targeted by the Iranian government to intimidate others who planned to participate in peaceful protests.
The IOC and UWW stated that they were in “constant contact” with the Iranian Olympic Committee and the Iranian Wrestling Federation to “facilitate a solution”, however they were not successful. Since Saturday’s execution, the two entities called the news “very sad” and “devastating”, but have not taken stronger action, and that is what Global Athlete hopes.
Pressured to intercede on behalf of Akfari, who claimed to have confessed to the murder of a security guard to end the torture he was allegedly subjected to, President Bach said on Wednesday that he was “extremely concerned about the issue.” but he underlined the COI principle to “respect the guidelines of each country”, that is, to ignore political positions and attitudes even of authoritarian governments that violate human rights.
The World Players Association (WPA), a global association representing some 85,000 athletes, had already made a public call for Iran to be expelled from all sports if it executed Afkari. In the tone of the official note released by the IOC this Saturday, the WPA’s request for the country to receive a sanction has not been on the agenda.
+ Athletes Association Demands Iran Expelled From World Sport If A Fighter Dies
+ Petition asks the International Olympic Committee to save the life of an Iranian fighter
Olympic fighter Navid Afkari was sentenced to death after protesting against the government of Iran – Photo: Twitter / UN Watch
The IOC Athletes Commission also showed solidarity, but with discretion, through social networks.
– We are devastated to hear about the execution of our colleague Navid Afkari. Over the past few days, the IOC has worked with our full support to save Navid’s life. We are saddened that our efforts and those of the athletic community have not achieved the desired result. Our thoughts and prayers are with Navid’s family and friends at this difficult time.
The European arm of Amnesty International posted on social media that Afkari was “cruelly executed after an extremely unfair trial” and called on “the international community, including UN human rights bodies and EU member states, to crack down on public and private interventions. ”
Navid Afkari was 27 years old and, in addition to his Olympic fighting career, which earned him titles in Iran, he worked as a tug. HRNA reportedly gained access to a letter written by Afkari in which he reports that he was tortured to confirm a series of false accusations.
