Execution, death penalty | Strong reactions:

The execution has sparked strong reactions around the world. The EU, the US Secretary of State, Presidential candidate Joe Biden, the Swedish Foreign Minister, Amnesty, the Olympic Committee (IOC) and Norway are among those who reacted strongly to Afkari’s hanging.

The EU issued a clear and strong condemnation of the execution on Monday morning.

– The EU strongly condemns this execution. Human rights remain a key feature of our relationship with Iran, the EU said in a statement.

– The EU opposes the death penalty in all circumstances without exception. It is cruel and inhuman punishment that does not act as a deterrent, the EU writes.

Also read: Trump pleads: – Do not execute this man

Afkari was found guilty of murder after participating in a demonstration in the Iranian city of Shiraz in 2018. Afkari was later sentenced to two death sentences. Family members and activists claim that Afkari is innocently convicted.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry writes the following Twitter: “Terrified by Iran’s execution of Navid Afkari. Norway, in principle, opposes the death penalty in any case.”

– Many are disappointed with the reactions.

Iran Human Rights, which has a wide network of sources in Iran, says that many Iranians are disappointed with the reactions from the outside world.

– There are many Iranians who want stronger reactions from the outside world. It is not sustained by a verbal condemnation. What has happened to Navid Afkari must have practical consequences for Iran. It is rare to have so much documented evidence of such a serious crime committed by the Iranian authorities, Iran’s Human Rights chief Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam tells Nettavisen.

– We believe that the EU and Norway should demand an independent investigation, both of the legal process and the reports of torture. And that various measures be considered, such as reducing the level of diplomatic relations until such an investigation is available. There are also many Iranians demanding a kind of measure from various sports organizations, such as that Iran be banned until an investigation is carried out, he says.

Joe Biden responds

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden signs Twitter that “Iran’s cruel execution of Navid Afkari is a mockery. No country should arrest, torture or execute peaceful protesters or activists. Iran should free its political prisoners, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, and free innocent Americans.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote in a statement: “The execution of Navid Afkari by the Iranian regime is ruthless and cruel. We strongly condemn it. It is a heinous attack on human dignity, even by abominable standards. of this regime “.

Also read: Reuters: – Iranian fighter Navid Afkari must be executed

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde writes that Sweden is “shocked by reports of the execution of Iranian fighter Navid Afkari.”

The IOC writes in a statement: “This is very sad news. The IOC is shocked by today’s announcement. IOC President Thomas Bach has made direct and personal requests in the form of a letter to the Supreme Leader and the President of They will go to show mercy to Navid Afkari. “

– Buried hastily at night

Iran Human Rights says Navid Afkari was buried late at night in a hurry, without the family seeing the entire body.

– He was buried late at night very quickly. The family was only allowed to see the face and there were signs of external injuries. This can be a serious use case of torture. Some even claim that he may have been killed under torture, says Amiry-Moghaddam.

– Whether he was killed by torturers or by hanging by the authorities, this is a crime that must have concrete consequences for the Iranian authorities. He has been tortured in the worst way. Has killed. The family has been threatened. This is a violation of all of Iran’s obligations under international law. A verbal condemnation is not enough. I really wonder what it takes for Norway to do something else, he says.

Also read: Freestyle wrestler will be executed for participating in a peaceful protest

– False confession

Iran Human Rights has obtained access to court documents. They say the evidence against Afkari is weak and that the verdict is based on a false confession during torture.

Afkari was found guilty of stabbing and killing a security guard in the wake of riots in his hometown of Shiraz in 2018. Just a month and a half after the protests, Afkari was arrested for the murder.

The fighter’s brothers, Vahid and Habib, who apparently also participated in the Shiraz protests, were also detained. Both brothers have been sentenced to long prison terms.

This is the bottom

It was at midnight on August 2, 2018, when a security guard at a federal building in Shiraz, Hassan Torkaman, was stabbed. He later died in hospital from his injuries. According to court documents, as seen by Iran Human Rights, Torkaman had been tasked with identifying the protesters in the city of Shiraz.

There must have been no witnesses present when the stabbing took place. But a local store owner suspected that there were two motorcyclists who had been observed some distance from the scene that night.

Iran’s security authorities collected mobile information from base stations near the site. Based on information obtained from the mobile databases, they went to arrest several young people who are said to have been in the area during the relevant period. The arrest took place 45 days after the stabbing.

The owner of the local store could not identify any of those arrested, but did not rule out that the Afkari switch looked a bit like the motorcyclist, whom the store owner could only see from top to bottom 45 days earlier.