Wrestler Navid Afkari ‘executed’: human rights groups call for Iran to be expelled from international sport
- Reports quoting Iran’s official state media say the 27-year-old was hanged on Saturday morning after confessing to murder during 2018 protests
- Human rights groups say Afkari was tortured into making a confession and urges the world sporting community to take decisive action
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.
