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The fighter Navid Afkari was a popular hero in Iran and his execution caused horror around the world. Washington has now responded to the execution of the death penalty against athletes and imposed sanctions for massive human rights violations. The punishments are directed against the authorities and various representatives of the Islamic Republic. The judge who handed down Afkari’s death sentence is also affected.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the execution of the 27-year-old a “unscrupulous act.” He was also alarmed by reports that Afkari had been tortured to obtain his confession to stabbing a government official.
The sanctions mean that the potential assets of Judge Sejed Mahmud Sadati are frozen in the US and that financial transactions with the lawyer are considered a crime in the US.
Afkari’s execution had sparked widespread international outrage. The fighter was hastily executed on September 12, despite international solidarity campaigns. He is said to have stabbed an official at a demonstration in Shiraz in August 2018 against the economic and political situation. The fighter had confessed to the crime, but according to human rights organizations, the confession had been obtained under torture.
The United States government also imposed sanctions on a second judge. She reacted to the lawsuits against followers of the Bahá’í religious community. The activities of the Bahá’í community in Iran are subject to strict restrictions by the authorities.
Sanctions also for Iran’s nuclear activities
The US government had issued new sanctions against Iran earlier this week. These relate to Iran’s nuclear and weapons activities and are directed against two dozen organizations and individuals.
Relations between the United States and Iran have deteriorated dramatically since US President Donald Trump took office in early 2017. Trump regularly describes Iran as the main source of violence and instability in the Middle East and has a policy of “maximum pressure” on the country.
In May 2018, the US President unilaterally terminated the international nuclear deal with Iran. As a result, his government imposed massive economic sanctions on the country.
