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The execution by hanging of fighter Navid Afkari has sparked a broad international response. The Global Athlete movement, which includes athletes from around the world, has called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Federation of Wrestling (UWW) to eliminate Iran.
On Sunday, Asian media reported that Afkari’s execution took place in Adelabad prison despite a worldwide campaign for clemency. The 27-year-old Iranian was sentenced to death on murder charges for stabbing a security guard at the state water and sanitation company Hassan Turkman during protests against the theocratic Shiite regime in 2018.
“Now I am happy because I have learned the true aspirations of humanity thanks to you, extraordinary people. Aspirations that are much greater than the World Wrestling Championships”, was the last message from Afkari, reports the Spanish “Marca”.
According to information from the leaked audio recording from the prison, the Iranian says he was tortured and forced to confess to a crime he did not commit. The AP notes that violence is a common practice by Iranian authorities to quell discontent against the regime.
“Navid was destined for his success and popularity as an athlete, and this brutality is intended to serve as an example of terror against society and to silence dissent. Now we must unite in his memory to ensure that others do not follow this fate. “said Brendan Schwab, director of World Players United, which works on behalf of athletes.
Afkari’s case attracted attention, with his brothers Vahid and Habib sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison, respectively. He has been championed by many human rights organizations, sports organizations such as the IOC and the President of the United States, Donald Trump. He recently tweeted that he was asking Iran to forgive Afkari.
The IOC and UWW said they had been in constant contact with the Iranian Olympic Committee and the local wrestling federation in search of a solution, but no solution was reached. In letters to Iran’s Supreme Leader, IOC President Thomas Bach asked for clemency, but later expressed concern that everyone’s appeals had been ignored.
