Wrestler Navid Afkari ‘executed’: human rights groups call for Iran to be expelled from international sport

Human rights activists on Saturday demanded Iran be expelled immediately from international sport after reports indicated the Islamic Republic’s government had executed champion wrestler Navid Afkari.

Groups had been urging Iran to grant clemency to the 27-year-old, who they said was tortured into confessing his involvement in the killing of a government official during protests in August, 2018.

Afkari was executed by hanging on Saturday, according to multiple reports that quote Iran’s state-run media. His brothers Vahid Afkari and Habib Afkari were sentenced to 56 years and six months in prison, and 24 years and three months in prison respectively, and 74 lashes each, in connection with the same killing of an intelligence agent.

Brendan Schwab, executive director of the World Players Association and a human rights lawyer, said earlier this week that Iran should be expelled from international sport should they go ahead with the execution.

“We’ve got statements from the Iranian judiciary and a lawyer working with couple of groups for the Centre for Human Rights in Iran [seeking confirmation of Afkari’s execution],” Schwab told the Post. “Where we are today is that we are devastated at this news if this is true. It’s been an extraordinary campaign led by [Olympic wrestler] Sally Roberts and the wrestling community has been extraordinary in their support for an athlete who stands up for what is right.

“It is a horrifying contrast to the respect athlete activism receives in Europe and the United States. We have said that should Iran proceed with the execution, it is inconsistent and a repudiation of its membership of international sport and we clearly believe that this has to be the case.

“But we need to reflect on this and as a movement, we are determined to ensure that Navid did not lose his life in vain and effect systemic change in the world.”

Human rights activist Craig Foster, a former Australia soccer captain who previously played professionally in Hong Kong, said Iran should be expelled from world sport. “Hoping for positive news. If accurate, Iran must be expelled from international sport immediately. And a full review conducted into the response, or lack there of, by global sport.”

Afkari’s family were reportedly informed of his execution on Saturday morning. According to Amnesty International, Afkari was arrested on September 17, 2018 and given two death sentences by a criminal court.

The human rights body said the brothers’ criminal proceedings were “grossly unfair” and relied on forced confessions.

“None of the judges presiding over their cases ordered investigations into their torture allegations. All three brothers have maintained their innocence,” it said.

On September 5 this year, Afkari’s “confession” was aired on state television by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting corporation, but supporters say the wrester managed to release an audio message from prison saying he was tortured into confessing and retracted his statement.

Foster later tweeted: “Sport amplifies social injustices & #NavidAfkari’s hanging must be a trigger for global sport to act expeditiously, forcefully & collectively in condemnation of attacks on human rights & to demand adherence to humanitarian principles as part of its membership.”

On September 2, it was reported by NCR Iran that 48 Iranian sporting champions, joining forces with the National Council of Resistance, wrote to the UN Secretary General, International Olympic Committee and the Human Rights Council urging them to intervene in Afkari’s case.

The protests in 2018 were sparked by grievances over economic hardship, water shortages and strict rules. Afkari and his brothers were accused of being among those who took part in anti-government demonstrations in their home city of Shiraz.

US President Donald Trump made an appeal in early September for the Iranian government to spare the wrestler’s life.