Misplaced Pages

Execution of Navid Afkari: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 23:01, 14 December 2020 editAli mjr (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,732 edits Death and burial← Previous edit Latest revision as of 10:56, 31 December 2024 edit undoCitation bot (talk | contribs)Bots5,438,410 edits Altered title. Added date. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Spinixster | Category:Executed Iranian people | #UCB_Category 20/75 
(142 intermediate revisions by 78 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Iranian wrestler}} {{Short description|Iranian wrestler (1994–2020)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
{{POV|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox athlete
| name = Navid Afkari | name = Navid Afkari
| native_name = نوید افکاری سنگری | native_name = {{lang|fa|نوید افکاری سنگری}}
| image = Navid Afkari.jpg | image = Navid Afkari.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = | caption =
| birth_name = Navid Afkaari Sangari | birth_name = Navid Afkari Sangari
| birth_date = 1993 | birth_date = {{birth date|1993|7|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], Iran
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|9|12|1993|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|9|12|1993|7|22|df=y}}
| death_place = Adel-Abaad prison, ], Iran | death_place = Adel-Abaad prison, Shiraz, Iran
| resting_place = ] | resting_place = ], ]
| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes | module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| resting_place_coordinates = | resting_place_coordinates =
| residence =
| nationality = Iranian | nationality = Iranian
| criminal_charge = Murder of security agent, organizing a group, participating in protests <ref>{{Cite web|date=28 August 2020|title=Iran sentences tortured protester to death; 2 brothers to 81 years of prison|url=https://irannewswire.org/iran-sentences-tortured-protester-to-death-2-brothers-to-81-years-of-prison/|access-date=13 September 2020|website=Iran News Wire|language=en-US}}</ref>
| criminal_penalty = Two ]s
| criminal_status = Executed | criminal_status = Executed
| criminal_charge = Alleged murder of security agent, organizing a group, participating in protests <ref>{{Cite web|date=28 August 2020|title=Iran sentences tortured protester to death; 2 brothers to 81 years of prison|url=https://irannewswire.org/iran-sentences-tortured-protester-to-death-2-brothers-to-81-years-of-prison/|access-date=13 September 2020|website=Iran News Wire|language=en-US}}</ref>
| alma_mater =
| criminal_penalty = ]
| employer =
| alma_mater =
| employer =
| occupation = ] | occupation = ]
| years_active = 2005–2015 | years_active = 2002–2015
| known_for = | known_for =
| party = | family = Habib, Saeid, Vahid (brothers), Elham (sister)
| footnotes = | footnotes =
}} }}
}} }}
'''Navid Afkari Sangari''' ({{langx|fa|نوید افکاری سنگری}}; 22 July 1993 – 12 September 2020)<ref name="cnn_20210628">{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/28/sport/navid-afkari-cmd-spt-intl/index.html|title=Navid Afkari: Executed Iranian wrestling star's voice is 'everywhere now'|first=Don|last=Riddell|work=]|date=28 June 2021|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=((Staff writers))|date=12 September 2020|title=Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed - state media|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-wrestler-idUKKBN2630EP|access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> was an Iranian ] who was ] in ]<ref name="nyt_20200912">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/world/middleeast/iran-wrestler-navid-afkari.html|title=Iran Executes Wrestler Accused of Murder After He Took Part in 2018 Protests|first1=Farnaz|last1=Fassihi|first2=Marjorie|last2=Olster|work=]|date=12 September 2020|access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref> after having been accused and convicted of murdering a security guard during the ];<ref name="bbc_20200912">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54129949|title=Navid Afkari: Iran executes young wrestler despite global outcry|work=]|date=12 September 2020|access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref> sources from outside Iran also cited convictions on other charges related to Afkari's participation in the protests,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Iran executes champion wrestler Navid Afkari despite global outcry|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-executes-wrestler-navid-afkari-global-outcry|access-date=13 September 2020|work=Middle East Eye|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=30 August 2020 |title=Iran Court Passes Double Death Sentence On Protester In Shiraz |url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-court-passes-double-death-sentence-on-protester-in-shiraz/30811261.html |work=]}}</ref> while Iranian sources denied that the case had any connection to the protests.<ref name="aljazeera_20200912">{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/12/iranian-wrestler-navid-afkari-executed-says-state-media|title=Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari executed, says state media|work=]|date=12 September 2020|access-date=3 April 2021}}</ref> Afkari had filed a complaint with the Iranian judiciary, and stated in an audiotape recording that was smuggled from prison, that his initial confession had been obtained under torture;<ref name="nyt_20200912"/>
'''Navid Afkari''' ({{lang-fa|نوید افکاری}}; 1993 – 12 September 2020)<ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2020 |title=Tortured and at Risk of Execution for Taking Part in 2018 Protests |url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/7524 |publisher=IranWire }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Staff|first=Reuters|date=12 September 2020|title=Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed - state media|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-wrestler-idUKKBN2630EP|access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/breaking-navid-afkari-executed-iran-ignores-international-outcry-hangs-champion-wrestler-827970|title=Navid Afkari executed; Iran ignores international outcry, hangs champion wrestler|first=Sami|last=Khan|date=12 September 2020|website=International Business Times, India Edition}}</ref> was an ]ian ] who was ] in Iran, after the ] claimed he had murdered a security guard<ref>https://www.mehrnews.com/news/5012473/قتل-فجیع-کارمند-سازمان-آب-منطقه-ای-شیراز-به-دست-نوید-افکاری</ref> during the ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iran executes champion wrestler Navid Afkari despite global outcry|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-executes-wrestler-navid-afkari-global-outcry|access-date=13 September 2020|website=Middle East Eye|language=en}}</ref> His execution caused a global outcry, as Afkari's conduct during the protests had been peaceful, the confession obtained from Afkari was under duress, and the reason for execution was because Afkari took part in the protests.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 August 2020 |title=Iran Court Passes Double Death Sentence On Protester In Shiraz |url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-court-passes-double-death-sentence-on-protester-in-shiraz/30811261.html |publisher=] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 September 2020 |title=Iran imposes double execution on champion wrestler for peacefully protesting regime |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-imposes-double-execution-on-champion-wrestler-for-peacefully-protesting-regime |publisher=Fox News }}</ref> Afkari's brothers Vahid and Habib were sentenced to 54 and 27 years, respectively, in prison in the same case.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=4 September 2020|title=Navid Afkari: Trump urges Iran not to execute champion wrestler|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54008497|access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref> While Afkari initially accepted the murder charge, he would later state that it had been a ], with him having been ]d into making a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iranintl.com/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6-%DA%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%AA%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%BA%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%AE%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA|title=اعتراض گسترده به پخش اعترافات اجباری نوید افکاری از صدا و سیما: سناریوی تکراری، دروغین و خجالت‌آور|date=5 September 2020|publisher=]|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> Despite the Islamic Republic's efforts to portray Afkari's execution as retribution for the deceased security guard, the murder charge was never proven<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/15/navid-afkaris-unjust-death-reinforces-case-for-human-rights-accountability-in-sport</ref><ref>https://www.radiozamaneh.com/533450</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-54141380</ref>. Afkari's death was followed by worldwide condemnation of the regime,<ref name=AI20200912>{{cite web|date=12 September 2020|title=Iran: Secret execution of wrestler Navid Afkari a 'travesty of justice'|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/09/iran-secret-execution-of-wrestler-navid-afkari-a-travesty-of-justice/|publisher=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> ranging from individual to national statements, including statements released by the ],<ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters|date=14 September 2020|title=EU condemns execution of Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari|url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/world/eu-condemns-execution-of-iranian-wrestler-navid-afkari-496525/|work=]|publisher=]|location=]|publication-place=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Artemis Moshtaghian|author2=Ramin Mostaghim|author3=Ivana Kottasová|author4=George Ramsay|date=14 September 2020|title=European Union condemns execution of Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/14/sport/iran-wrestler-navid-afkari-european-union-spt-intl/index.html|publisher=CNN|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> the International Olympic Committee ],<ref>{{cite web|last=Cwik|first=Chris|date=12 September 2020|title=IOC says it is 'devastated' after Iran executes wrestler Navid Afkari|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/ioc-says-it-is-devastated-after-iran-executes-wrestler-navid-afkari-185814986.html|publisher=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> and individuals like ] president ] and ], the last crown prince of Iran.<ref>{{cite web|last=Aanmoen|first=Oskar|date=14 September 2020|title=Reza Pahlavi condemns the execution of Iranian wrestler, Navid Afkari|url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/asia/reza-pahlavi-condemns-the-execution-of-iranian-wrestler-navid-afkari-149151/|website=RoyalCentral.co.uk|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>
the Iranian judiciary denied the torture claims, and Iranian state media broadcast a recording of the confession.<ref name="guardian_20200912">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/12/iranian-champion-wrestler-navid-afkari-executed-despite-global-outcry|title=Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed despite global outcry|first=Michael|last=Safi|work=]|date=12 September 2020|access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref> There were worldwide calls for Afkari to be pardoned, including by ] President ],<ref name="nyt_20200912"/> and by then U.S. president ].<ref name="bbc_20200912"/> Afkari's brothers Vahid and ] were sentenced to 54 and 27 years, respectively, in prison in the same case.<ref name="bbc_20200912"/>


In September 2020 the United States blacklisted several Iranian officials and entities over alleged gross violations of human rights that also included Navid Afkari's execution.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. imposes new Iran sanctions over human rights violations
Afkari was executed in the early morning hours of 12 September 2020 in the Adel-Abad prison in ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reuters|date=12 September 2020|title=Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed despite global outcry|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/12/iranian-champion-wrestler-navid-afkari-executed-despite-global-outcry|access-date=12 September 2020|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0"/>
|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-sanctions-pompeo-int-idUSKCN26F3BU|first1=Humeyra|last1=Pamuk |first2=Daphne|last2=Psaledakis|others=Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernadette Baum and Tom Brown|website=]|date=24 September 2020|access-date=2 April 2021|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2020 the United States blacklisted several Iranian officials and entities over alleged gross violations of human rights that also included the case of Navid Afkari's execution.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. imposes new Iran sanctions over human rights violations
|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-sanctions-pompeo-int-idUSKCN26F3BU|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref>


==Wrestling career== ==Wrestling career==
Afkari had been a wrestler and had participated in several national Iranian wrestling events, as a teenager he was placed 2nd in 69kg category of "2009 teenagers Greco-Roman wrestling competitions",<ref>http://iawf.ir/Content/Content.aspx?PageCode=22940</ref> later on his wrestling career he had managed to gain 8th place in 71kg category of "2016 general national Greco-Roman wrestling competitions".<ref>http://iawf.ir/Content/Content.aspx?PageCode=47925</ref> Navid Afkari had been a wrestler, having discovered the sport at the age of nine,<ref name="cnn_20210628"/> and had participated in several national Iranian wrestling events. In 2008 he was ranked 2nd in the 69&nbsp;kg category in youth ].<ref name="کشتی">{{Cite web|last=کشتی|first=روابط عمومی فدراسیون|title=فدراسیون کشتی|url=http://iawf.ir/|access-date=2021-04-05|website=فدراسیون کشتی|language=fa}}</ref> In 2016 he ranked 8th place nationally in the 71&nbsp;kg category for Greco-Roman wrestling.<ref name="کشتی"/>


==Arrest and charges==
==Charges==
Afkari was arrested for the murder of Hasan Turkman, who worked as a security guard for Water and Sewage company of Shiraz,<ref name="CNN2"/> on 17&nbsp;September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/breaking-navid-afkari-executed-iran-ignores-international-outcry-hangs-champion-wrestler-827970|title=Navid Afkari executed; Iran ignores international outcry, hangs champion wrestler|first=Sami|last=Khan|date=12 September 2020|website=International Business Times, India Edition}}</ref>
The murder victim was Hasan Torkman, he worked as a security guard for Water and Sewage company of Shiraz.<ref name="CNN2"/>


Torkman was murdered on the night of August 1st, 2018 while returning home from work, According to ], Navid Afkari was arrested after he was identified in a CCTV footage across the street from the murder scene.<ref>https://www.mehrnews.com/news/5012473/قتل-فجیع-کارمند-سازمان-آب-منطقه-ای-شیراز-به-دست-نوید-افکاری</ref> The Turkman was murdered on the night of 1 August 2018 (on 2 August 2018 according to the official version<ref name="cnn_20210628"/>) while returning home from work. According to the ], Afkari was arrested after he was identified in ] footage from nearby the murder scene.<ref name="mehrnews.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/5012473/قتل-فجیع-کارمند-سازمان-آب-منطقه-ای-شیراز-به-دست-نوید-افکاری|title=قتل فجیع کارمند سازمان آب منطقه‌ای شیراز به دست نوید افکاری|date=31 August 2020|website=خبرگزاری مهر &#124; اخبار ایران و جهان &#124; Mehr News Agency}}</ref> That Afkari had been identified by police via the footage was later reported to be the version of events that was prevailing inside Iran.<ref name="aljazeera_20200912"/>


In audio clips released (or according to another source, leaked<ref name="cnn_20210628"/>) from the court, Afkari stated that he had not played a role in the murder of Turkman.<ref name="iranwire_20200926">{{cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/7662|title=Who are the Iranian judges sanctioned by the US?|first=Shima|last=Shahrabi|website=iranwire.com|date=26 September 2020|access-date=11 April 2021}}</ref> According to Afkari's lawyer Ali Younesi, there was no evidence linking him to that case. In an interview with "Emtedad" news network that was published by ], Younesi claimed the sentencing court had been influenced by two sources that they claim showed Afkari as the murderer. According to Younesi, the court used CCTV footage of a street near where Turkman was found dead, but showed the scene before Turkman's death.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 September 2020|title=وکیل نوید افکاری فیلم مورد استناد دادگاه را بی‌اعتبار دانست|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D9%88%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%84-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA/a-54781054|newspaper=]|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> Footage from the moment when the felony took place was claimed to not exist.<ref name=RZ20200904>{{cite news|last=Seifikaran|first=Farzad|date=4 September 2020|title=پرونده برادران افکاری: چرا قوه قضائیه دروغ می‌گوید؟|url=https://www.radiozamaneh.com/533450|work=]|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-navid-afkari-case-lawyer-rejects-evidence-wrestlers-support/30814505.html|title=وکیل نوید افکاری درستی فیلم مورد ادعای قوه قضائیه را رد کرد؛ حمایت دو فرنگی‌کار|date=1 September 2020|work=Radio Farda|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>
The murder charge was strongly refuted by Afkari.
According to Afkari's lawyer Ali Younesi, there was no evidence linking him to that case, in an interview with "Emtedad" news network that was published by ], Younesi claimed
The court sentencing was influenced by two sources that they claim it showed Afkari as the murderer.


According to Younesi, they used the ] footage of a street near where Torkman was found dead; The footage was from more than some one hours before Torkman's death and henceforth, one cannot base that as a piece of evidence for finding someone guilty of murder.<ref>{{cite web|date=1 September 2020|title=وکیل نوید افکاری فیلم مورد استناد دادگاه را بی‌اعتبار دانست|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D9%88%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%84-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA/a-54781054|publisher=]|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> In it, there is nothing out of the ordinary; Afkari was walking on the sidewalk while talking on the phone with someone.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vahdat|first=Amir|date=12 September 2020|title=Iran executes pro-wrestler Navid Afkari despite global campaign for his release|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7331445/iran-executes-navid-afkari/|publisher=]|agency=Associated Press|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> The video was reported to show Afkari walking on the sidewalk while talking on the phone.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vahdat|first=Amir|date=12 September 2020|title=Iran executes pro-wrestler Navid Afkari despite global campaign for his release|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7331445/iran-executes-navid-afkari/|work=]|agency=Associated Press|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> According to audio recordings from the court, Afkari had requested that the video be presented to the court, which head judge Mehrdad Tahmtan refused.<ref name="iranwire_20200926"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/30841947.html|title=سازمان حقوق بشر ایران فایلی صوتی از دادگاه نوید افکاری منتشر کرد|date=16 September 2020|work=Radio Farda|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%BA-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%81-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF/a-54911942|title=دروغ و تحریف در پرونده نوید افکاری مروری بر برخی موارد|date=13 September 2020|newspaper=Deutsche Welle|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>


In an audio recording from the court, the prosecutor did not present the so-called evidence to the defendant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/30841947.html|title=سازمان حقوق بشر ایران فایلی صوتی از دادگاه نوید افکاری منتشر کرد|date=16 September 2020|publisher=Radio Farda|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> In the audio recordings, Afkari pointed that out to the court and asked the head-judge for the mentioned video to be presented before everyone; so that one can infer guilt, if that was the case. However, the head-judge Mehrdad Tahmtan was ignorant of his request.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%BA-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%81-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF/a-54911942|title=دروغ و تحریف در پرونده نوید افکاری مروری بر برخی موارد|date=13 September 2020|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> To be exact, no footage from the moment when the felony took place exists.<ref name=RZ20200904>{{cite web|last=Seifikaran|first=Farzad|date=4 September 2020|title=پرونده برادران افکاری: چرا قوه قضائیه دروغ می‌گوید؟|url=https://www.radiozamaneh.com/533450|publisher=]|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-navid-afkari-case-lawyer-rejects-evidence-wrestlers-support/30814505.html|title=وکیل نوید افکاری درستی فیلم مورد ادعای قوه قضائیه را رد کرد؛ حمایت دو فرنگی‌کار|date=1 September 2020|publisher=Radio Farda|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> In addition to the CCTV footage, the court used eye-witness accounts as the other evidence for linking Afkari with Turkman's murder case. The accounts were later dropped by the people that initially testified against Afkari. One testified under pressure, another said that their testimony was not right or accurate and another one mentioned that they had met Afkari for the first time during the court.<ref name=II20200902>{{cite web|url=https://iranintl.com/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%8C-%D8%B3%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%88-%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%9B-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%BA-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF|title=برادران افکاری، سه متهم سیاسی و یک پرونده قتل؛ خبرگزاری میزان دروغ می‌گوید|date=2 September 2020|website=Iran International|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=BBC20200914>{{cite news|last=Amirshahi|first=Farnoush|date=14 September 2020|title=ساعت‌های پرابهام؛ پرونده‌ای که با اعدام نوید افکاری بسته نشد|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-54141380|work=BBC News|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>


For his involvement in the protests, and further the alleged murder case, the court led by the head judge, Mehrdad Tahmtan,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ettelaat.net/2020/09/01/39086/|title=با مهرداد تهمتن "قاضی" صادر کننده حکم ۲ بار اعدام برای نوید افکاری آشنا شوید|date=1 September 2020|website=ettelaat.net|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://iranglobal.info/node/80971|title=قاضی جلادی که به نوید افکاری حکم ۲ بار اعدام داد را بشناسید!|date=14 September 2020|website=iranglobal.info|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> sentenced Afkari with two ]s.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2020 |title=Tortured and at Risk of Execution for Taking Part in 2018 Protests |url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/7524 |work=IranWire }}</ref>
In addition to the CCTV footage, the court used eye-witness accounts as the other evidence for linking Afkari with Torkman's murder case. The accounts were later dropped by the people that initially testified against Afkari. One testified under pressure, another said that their testimony was not right or accurate and another one mentioned that they had met Afkari for the first time during the court.<ref name=II20200902>{{cite web|url=https://iranintl.com/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%8C-%D8%B3%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%88-%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%9B-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%BA-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF|title=برادران افکاری، سه متهم سیاسی و یک پرونده قتل؛ خبرگزاری میزان دروغ می‌گوید|date=2 September 2020|publisher=Iran International|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=BBC20200914>{{cite news|last=Amirshahi|first=Farnoush|date=14 September 2020|title=ساعت‌های پرابهام؛ پرونده‌ای که با اعدام نوید افکاری بسته نشد|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-54141380|publisher=BBC|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>

Despite all the flaws in the murder case with no actual footage of the murder scene and the false testimonies, the court persisted with holding Afkari accountable.

For his involvement in the protests, and further the alleged murder case, the court led by the head judge, Mehrdad Tahmtan,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ettelaat.net/2020/09/01/39086/|title=با مهرداد تهمتن "قاضی" صادر کننده حکم ۲ بار اعدام برای نوید افکاری آشنا شوید|date=1 September 2020|website=ettelaat.net|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://iranglobal.info/node/80971|title=قاضی جلادی که به نوید افکاری حکم ۲ بار اعدام داد را بشناسید!|date=14 September 2020|website=iranglobal.info|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> sentenced Afkari with two ]s.


After that, Afkari found this ruling unjust, and he voiced his concerns. In one of his voice calls from the Adel-Abaad prison, he said: After that, Afkari found this ruling unjust, and he voiced his concerns. In one of his voice calls from the Adel-Abaad prison, he said:
{{quote|My audience are noble people that have a bit of honor in them. Your complacency means rooting for oppression and the oppressor. It means supporting the execution of an innocent. Means I will be getting closer, step-by-step, to the hanging platform. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HydtGYhAOxA&ab_channel=FirstHealth&t=39 |title=فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari |date=3 September 2020 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>}} {{blockquote|My audience are noble people that have a bit of honor in them. Your complacency means rooting for oppression and the oppressor. It means supporting the execution of an innocent. Means I will be getting closer, step-by-step, to the hanging platform.<ref name="afkari_voice_20200919">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HydtGYhAOxA&ab_channel=FirstHealth&t=39 |title=فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari |date=3 September 2020 |website=YouTube |access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>}}


He insisted his innocence stating: He insisted his innocence stating:


{{quote|People! It is only logical that I will fight for my life; and as per the evidence, all clues are an affirmation to my innocence. All the evidence that we have collected and everything that I am saying right now, is only here to let you know that if I ever get executed, in the 21st century and with all the ] organizations, the ] or ] or the whatever else, an innocent human being, which had tried to the best of his might and fought, to have his voice heard, was hanged.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HydtGYhAOxA&ab_channel=FirstHealth&t=93 |title=فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari |date=3 September 2020 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=AI20200912/>}} {{blockquote|People! It is only logical that I will fight for my life; and as per the evidence, all clues are an affirmation to my innocence. All the evidence that we have collected and everything that I am saying right now, is only here to let you know that if I ever get executed, in the 21st century and with all the ] organizations, the ] or ] or the whatever else, an innocent human being, which had tried to the best of his might and fought, to have his voice heard, was hanged.<ref name="afkari_voice_20200919"/>}}


He warned people about the systemic corruption infesting the ] of Iran and how innocent lives get taken by their unjust rulings, stating: He warned people about the systemic corruption infesting the ] of Iran and how innocent lives get taken by their unjust rulings, stating:


{{quote|Know and be aware that if the innocent me gets executed, this won't be the first victim of the unfairness of this so-called 'justice-oriented' unjust court".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HydtGYhAOxA&ab_channel=FirstHealth&t=125 |title=فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari |date=3 September 2020 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>}} {{blockquote|Know and be aware that if the innocent me gets executed, this won't be the first victim of the unfairness of this so-called 'justice-oriented' unjust court".<ref name="afkari_voice_20200919"/>}}


==Forced confessions== ==Forced confessions==
While Afkari initially issued a confession accepting the murder charge, he would later take it back stating he had been ]d into making a ].<ref name=RZ20200904/><ref name="BBC1">{{cite web |title=Navid Afkari: Iran executes young wrestler despite global outcry |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-54129949 |website=BBC News |access-date=13 September 2020 |date=12 September 2020}}</ref> During the hearings in the privately held court, Afkari stated: While Afkari initially issued a confession accepting the murder charge, he would later take it back stating he had been ]d into making a ].<ref name=RZ20200904/><ref name="BBC1">{{cite web |title=Navid Afkari: Iran executes young wrestler despite global outcry |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-54129949 |website=BBC News |access-date=13 September 2020 |date=12 September 2020}}</ref> As per the audio recordings released by the court, Afkari's request to summon the witness who testified about his torture was ignored by the judge.<ref name="iranwire_20200926"/>


During the hearings in the privately held court, Afkari stated:
{{quote|I told the inspector that neither do I know the secret agent (that has been killed), nor have I heard his name! But under torture, and to save my family, and for Vahid (one of his imprisoned brothers), I gave them what they wanted.<ref name=BBC20200914/>}}


{{blockquote|I told the inspector that neither do I know the secret agent (that has been killed), nor have I heard his name! But under torture, and to save my family, and for Vahid (one of his imprisoned brothers), I gave them what they wanted.<ref name=BBC20200914/>}}
His parents sent a letter to the chief justice of Iran claiming their son endured torture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/54084547|title=نامه پدر و مادر برادران افکاری؛ تا آثار ضرب و شتم هست آنان را به پزشکی قانونی ببرید|date=9 September 2020|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>


His parents sent a letter to the chief justice of Iran claiming their son endured torture.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/54084547|title=نامه پدر و مادر برادران افکاری؛ تا آثار ضرب و شتم هست آنان را به پزشکی قانونی ببرید|date=9 September 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>
In his voice-call from the prison, he clarified that he had been indeed tortured, to wrongly confess about murdering someone which he had not. He comes to the realization that this whole ordeal is not actually about the murder and rather the regime's irritation because of his participation in the protests, as the last thing they wanted to see, was a public figure in the protests alongside the people rallying against the dictatorship.<ref name=Guardian20200914>{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Craig|date=14 September 2020|title=Navid Afkari's unjust death reinforces case for human rights accountability in sport|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/15/navid-afkaris-unjust-death-reinforces-case-for-human-rights-accountability-in-sport|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> His words are as follows:


In one of his last recordings from prison,<ref name="nyt_20200912"/> Afkari said:
{{quote|Once I had been freed from the pressure of solitary confinement, the basement, and the tortures, once I stepped back onto the prison, I immediately wrote to the judicial offices and filed my complaint (against their use of torture) and screamed (my innocence); that I am not a murderer. I requested them to take me to the forensics bureau (for medical examinations of his scars). Per their report and eye-witness account (of my torture) and other evidence, it was made clear that I had been tortured. No matter the countless times I wrote (and pleaded) that all my confessions were obtained under (pressure and) torture; or how there is not a single shred of evidence in this damned case that could prove my guilt, but they did not want to hear our voice. I figured they were looking for a ] for their ]'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HydtGYhAOxA&ab_channel=FirstHealth&t=174s |title=فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari |date=3 September 2020 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Safi|first=Michael|date=12 September 2020|title=Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed despite global outcry|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/12/iranian-champion-wrestler-navid-afkari-executed-despite-global-outcry|work=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>}}


{{blockquote|Once I had been freed from the pressure of solitary confinement, the basement, and the tortures, once I stepped back onto the prison, I immediately wrote to the judicial offices and filed my complaint (against their use of torture) and screamed (my innocence); that I am not a murderer. I requested them to take me to the forensics bureau (for medical examinations of his scars). Per their report and eye-witness account (of my torture) and other evidence, it was made clear that I had been tortured. No matter the countless times I wrote (and pleaded) that all my confessions were obtained under (pressure and) torture; or how there is not a single shred of evidence in this damned case that could prove my guilt, but they did not want to hear our voice. I figured they were looking for a neck for their noose.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HydtGYhAOxA&ab_channel=FirstHealth&t=174s |title=فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari |date=3 September 2020 |website=YouTube |access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="guardian_20200912"/>}}
The eye-witness account that confirmed Afkari's torture came from Shaahin Naaseri who was in the police department when Afkari was being forcefully interrogated under pressure. In his report he clarified:
{{quote|I heard screams, shouting, and pleas for help in the alley of the police department of Shiraz. The sargent accompanying me asked me to remain in the alley until he returns. He went and opened up a door. Out of curiosity, I too went to see what's going on. I saw two officers dressed in unofficial uniform cussing and hitting Navid with ]s and metal pipes mercilessly. They would tell him: "the truth is whatever we say", "will you write what we are saying or not?!". Navid was begging, "please! stop; don't hit me... I didn't do anything!". He covered his head with his arms. One of the inspectors that I later learned was Inspector Abbasi, hit Navid in a way that he went unconscious after a gut-wrenching scream.<ref name=BBC20200831>{{cite news|date=31 August 2020|title=جزئیات تازه از پرونده نوید افکاری؛ 'شاهد دارم که شکنجه شده‌ام'؛ قوه قضائيه:‌ ادعای شکنجه صحت ندارد|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-53977871|publisher=BBC|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>}}

Naaseri, who was an eye-witness to the tortures of Afkari, was later taunted and put under psychological pressure by the inspector of the national security court due to his testimony about the tortures.
{{quote|I testified before 3 separate courts. When I went to testify before the court responsible for breaches of national security, the Inspector of the branch told me "what have you seen in the police department?!". I went over my observations. Then the Inspector told me in a very condescending tone that "you are interfering with a security case, I will make you pay for it! I will force these officers to testify against you for your lies and false accusations! I will melt you!"<ref name=BBC20200831/>}}

Recently, Naaseri has disappeared and his family have not been able to make contact with him since Afkari's execution. It has been said that he has been given to the same organization that he testified against their officers' use of torture on Afkari.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iranintl.com/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%B4%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%88%D9%85|title=انتقال شاهد شکنجه نوید افکاری به مکانی نامعلوم|date=19 September 2020|publisher=Iran International|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>


==Death sentence== ==Death sentence==
Afkari was given two death sentences for his charges.<ref name="BBC1"/> According to human rights activists in Iran, his brothers Vahid and Habib were sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison for charges stemming from the same case.<ref name="BBC1"/> Afkari was given two death sentences for his charges.<ref name="BBC1"/> According to human rights activists in Iran, his brothers Vahid and Habib were sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison for charges stemming from the same case,<ref name="BBC1"/>
as well as 74{{nbsp}}lashes each. In a tweet from 1{{nbsp}}May 2021, journalist and activist ] said that Vahid was subjected to pressure to make forced confessions under the threat of execution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/international/irans-regime-threatens-to-execute-brother-of-wrestler-navid-afkari-667012|title=Iran's regime threatens to execute brother of wrestler Navid Afkari|first=Benjamin|last=Weinthal|work=]|date=3 May 2021|access-date=9 May 2021}}</ref>


=== Reactions === === Reactions ===
]
Afkari's death sentence sparked global outrage and calls to overturn his execution.<ref name="CNN2">{{cite web |last1=Moshtaghian |first1=Artemis |last2=Alam |first2=Hande Atay |last3=Mostaghim |first3=Ramin |last4=Ramsay |first4=George |title=Iran urged not to execute champion wrestler Navid Afkari |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/sport/navid-afkari-wrestler-iran-spt-intl/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=13 September 2020 |date=9 September 2020}}</ref> U.S. President ], ] President ] and ] President ] all petitioned Iran not to execute Afkari.<ref name="CNN1">{{cite web |title=Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed despite international campaign |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/12/sport/iran-wrestler-navid-afkari-executed-intl/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0"/><ref>{{cite news |date=6 September 2020 |title=German gov't to Post: Iranian wrestler must not be executed |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-may-execute-innocent-wrestler-placed-in-solitary-confinement-641183 |work=The Jerusalem Post }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/middle-east-north-africa/515331-iran-broadcasts-wrestlers-confession-following?ocid=uxbndlbing |title=Iran broadcasts wrestler's confession following Trump tweet |website=The Hill |date=6 September 2020 }}</ref> Trump tweeted on 4 September 2020:
Afkari's death sentence sparked global outrage and calls to overturn his execution.<ref name="CNN2">{{cite web |last1=Moshtaghian |first1=Artemis |last2=Alam |first2=Hande Atay |last3=Mostaghim |first3=Ramin |last4=Ramsay |first4=George |title=Iran urged not to execute champion wrestler Navid Afkari|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/sport/navid-afkari-wrestler-iran-spt-intl/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=13 September 2020 |date=9 September 2020}}</ref> U.S. President ], ] President ] and ] President ] all petitioned Iran not to execute Afkari.<ref name="CNN1">{{cite web |title=Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed despite international campaign |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/12/sport/iran-wrestler-navid-afkari-executed-intl/index.html |website=CNN |date=12 September 2020 |access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54008497|title=Navid Afkari: Trump urges Iran not to execute champion wrestler|work=]|date=4 September 2020|access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 September 2020 |title=German gov't to Post: Iranian wrestler must not be executed |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-may-execute-innocent-wrestler-placed-in-solitary-confinement-641183 |work=The Jerusalem Post }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/middle-east-north-africa/515331-iran-broadcasts-wrestlers-confession-following?ocid=uxbndlbing |title=Iran broadcasts wrestler's confession following Trump tweet |website=The Hill |date=6 September 2020 }}</ref> Trump tweeted on 4 September 2020:
<blockquote class="templatequote">Hearing that Iran is looking to execute a great and popular wrestling star, 27-year-old Navid Afkarai , whose sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets. They were protesting the “country’s worsening economic situation and inflation”. To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man’s life, and not execute him. Thank you!<ref>{{cite news |last=Halaschak |first=Zachary |date=12 September 2020 |title=Iran executes wrestler Navid Afkari despite pleas from Trump and Dana White |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/iran-executes-wrestler-navid-afkari-despite-pleas-from-trump-and-dana-white |work=] |access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref></blockquote> <blockquote class="templatequote">Hearing that Iran is looking to execute a great and popular wrestling star, 27-year-old Navid Afkarai , whose sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets. They were protesting the “country’s worsening economic situation and inflation”. To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man’s life, and not execute him. Thank you!<ref>{{cite news |last=Halaschak |first=Zachary |date=12 September 2020 |title=Iran executes wrestler Navid Afkari despite pleas from Trump and Dana White |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/iran-executes-wrestler-navid-afkari-despite-pleas-from-trump-and-dana-white |work=] |access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref></blockquote>


U.S. State Department spokeswoman, ], tweeted: "We join the world in outrage at the Iranian regime's death sentence for Navid Afkari, who was tortured into giving a ] after participating in peaceful protests in 2018. The regime also tortured his two brothers and sentenced them to decades in prison. Let them go!"<ref name=":0" /> U.S. State Department spokeswoman, ], tweeted: "We join the world in outrage at the Iranian regime's death sentence for Navid Afkari, who was tortured into giving a ] after participating in peaceful protests in 2018. The regime also tortured his two brothers and sentenced them to decades in prison. Let them go!"<ref name=":0" />

Azerbaijani MP ] spoke to Israeli newspaper '']'' about Navid Afkari's death sentence:

{{Quote|text=I’m against death penalties and our country as a member of the Council of Europe has joined to European standards on this issue. Not only this poor wrestler and his brothers are victims of totalitarian regime. Hundreds of Azerbaijanis in Iran have been punished because they wanted study their mother tongue. I’m joining all of you and declaring no death penalty for Navid Afkari.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/azerbaijan-mp-tells-post-iran-must-not-execute-wrestler-641697|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910082313/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/azerbaijan-mp-tells-post-iran-must-not-execute-wrestler-641697|archive-date=September 10, 2020|title=Azerbaijan MP tells 'Post' Iran must not execute wrestler|author=Benjamin Weinthal, Aaron Reich|date=September 9, 2020|publisher=jpost.com|access-date=September 10, 2020}}</ref>}}


The World Players Association urged for the Iranian judiciary to issue a stay of execution.<ref name="CNN2"/> The World Players Association urged for the Iranian judiciary to issue a stay of execution.<ref name="CNN2"/>


Iran's semi-official ] dismissed Trump's tweet in a feature story, saying that US sanctions had hurt Iranian hospitals amid the pandemic, "Trump is worried about the life of a murderer while he puts many Iranian patients' lives in danger by imposing severe sanctions," the agency said.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/12/iran-executes-wrestler-whose-life-trump-asked-to-be-spared-412836 |title=Iran executes wrestler whose life Trump asked to be spared |website=Politico |date=12 September 2020 }}</ref> Iran's state-sponsored ] dismissed Trump's tweet in a feature story, saying that US sanctions had hurt Iranian hospitals amid the pandemic, "Trump is worried about the life of a murderer while he puts many Iranian patients' lives in danger by imposing severe sanctions," the agency said.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/12/iran-executes-wrestler-whose-life-trump-asked-to-be-spared-412836 |title=Iran executes wrestler whose life Trump asked to be spared |website=Politico |date=12 September 2020 }}</ref>


===Potential banning of Iran from the Olympics===
This execution is not the first execution of an Iranian athlete, In August 1988, ] also was executed in ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Foruzan Abdi Pirbazari: One Person's Story|url=https://www.iranrights.org/memorial/story/-3442/foruzan-abdi-pirbazari|access-date=15 September 2020|website=Abdorrahman Boroumand Center|language=en}}</ref>
There have been talks about whether Iran should be banned from the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=Chris|date=18 September 2020|title='Miscarriage of justice': Australian leads call for Olympics to kick out Iran|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/miscarriage-of-justice-australian-leads-call-for-olympics-to-kick-out-iran-20200918-p55wxg.html|work=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> ]n sports administrator ], executive director of the Switzerland-based ], which represents tens of thousands of professional athletes around the world, said that:


{{blockquote|We can't think of a more grievous attack on the humanitarian values of the Olympic movement than the horrific execution of an athlete through a coerced confession obtained through torture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/miscarriage-of-justice-australian-leads-call-for-olympics-to-kick-out-iran-20200918-p55wxg.html|title="'Miscarriage of justice': Australian leads call for Olympics to kick out Iran"|first=Chris|last=Barrett|work=]|date=18 September 2020|access-date=15 April 2021}}</ref>}}
===Talks over banning Iran from the Olympics in the wake of Afkari's execution===
Due to his unfair sentencing and the fabrication of pieces of evidence to show him guilty of a murder he did not commit, there have been talks whether Iran should be banned from the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=Chris|date=18 September 2020|title='Miscarriage of justice': Australian leads call for Olympics to kick out Iran|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/miscarriage-of-justice-australian-leads-call-for-olympics-to-kick-out-iran-20200918-p55wxg.html|work=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> ] sports administrator ], executive director of the Switzerland-based ], which represents tens of thousands of professional athletes around the world, stipulated that:

{{quote|We can’t think of a more grievous attack on the humanitarian values of the Olympic movement than the horrific execution of an athlete through a coerced confession obtained through torture.}}


Schwab stated that Afkari's execution "must result in Iran forfeiting its right to be a part of sport's universal community".<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=Chris|date=15 September 2020|title=Coates suggests Iran Olympic ban unlikely despite wrestler's execution|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/coates-suggests-iran-olympic-ban-unlikely-despite-wrestler-s-execution-20200915-p55vtv.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> Schwab stated that Afkari's execution "must result in Iran forfeiting its right to be a part of sport's universal community".<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=Chris|date=15 September 2020|title=Coates suggests Iran Olympic ban unlikely despite wrestler's execution|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/coates-suggests-iran-olympic-ban-unlikely-despite-wrestler-s-execution-20200915-p55vtv.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>


==Death and burial== ==Death and burial==
] held for Afkari at ] in ]]]On 12 September, it was announced that Afkari had been executed.<ref name="BBC1"/><ref name="CNN1"/> No one exactly knows how this was done. His burial was done at night-time with high-security presence and only Afkari's immediate family members. His execution was rushed, and that raised a lot of speculations as to why that might have been, especially with a massive global outcry urging Iran not to carry out the execution. On 12 September 2020, it was announced that Afkari had been executed.<ref name="BBC1"/><ref name="CNN1"/> His body was buried at night-time with high-security presence; only Afkari's immediate family members attended.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}


Afkari's supporters raised several points of doubt regarding the official version of the execution. Afkari was supposedly executed in the month of ], during which the executions are not supposed to take place from the legal provisions, as it is considered forbidden (]) to kill during that month<ref name="BBC1a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-54146150|title=محکومیت جهانی اعدام نوید افکاری؛ ابراز نگرانی کارشناسان ارشد سازمان ملل|date=14 September 2020|website=BBC News فارسی}}</ref> by ], also written in the ].
According to the lawyers, his execution was unlawful.<ref>{{cite news|date=12 September 2020|title=نوید افکاری را "تحت تدابیر امنیتی و شبانه" دفن کردند|url=https://www.independentpersian.com/node/84451/%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%C2%AB%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%B4%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87%C2%BB-%D8%AF%D9%81%D9%86-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF|work=] Persian|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiozamaneh.com/532271|title=مدارک علیه نوید افکاری، معترض محکوم به اعدام، مخدوش است|date=1 September 2020|publisher=Radio Zamaneh|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=II20200902/> Given the pieces of evidence, the execution of Afkari cannot be considered the execution of a judicial verdict, and it is more of a "heinous crime" apparently aimed at poisoning the protesters and turning a blind eye to international public opinion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%A2%D8%AE%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%AE%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%81%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%81%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A8-%D9%88-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AE-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C/a-54925631|title=آخرین سخنان تلفنی نوید افکاری؛ سند فریب و به مسلخ بردن قربانی|date=14 September 2020|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>


There were also reports that the family of Turkman was about to agree to drop their call for ] (retribution). They were to have a meeting to discuss the matter with the other side the day Afkari was announced dead. His brother received the news of Afkari's death through a call shortly before his plane was due to depart for Shiraz in order to go and visit the Turkmans.<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Stuard|date=17 September 2020|title=With 'hasty' execution of wrestler, Iran sends defiant message to world|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-hasty-execution-of-wrestler-iran-sends-defiant-message-to-world/#gs.giq9jf|work=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC1a"/>
Officials say that Afkari was hanged; however, there is a lot of controversies regarding that narrative due to multiple anomalies. For one, Afkari was (supposedly) executed in the month of ], during which the executions never take place as it is ] and forbidden to kill<ref name="BBC1a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-54146150|title=محکومیت جهانی اعدام نوید افکاری؛ ابراز نگرانی کارشناسان ارشد سازمان ملل|date=14 September 2020|website=BBC News فارسی}}</ref> by ], also written in the ].


Afkari's lawyer Younesi said that his client had been denied a last meeting with family before execution, in violation of Iranian law.<ref name="bbc_20200912"/> There were also claims that the legally required notification of family about execution, one or two day in advance, had not been made.<ref name="BBC1a"/> In the last voice call from Afkari made hours before his death, he still appeared to have been completely unaware of his impending execution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fa.iran-hrm.com/%d8%a2%d8%ae%d8%b1%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%aa%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%b3-%d9%86%d9%88%db%8c%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%81%da%a9%d8%a7%d8%b1%db%8c-%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88-%d8%a8%db%8c-%d8%ae%d8%a8%d8%b1/|title=آخرین تماس نوید افکاری از زندان و بی خبری او از اجرای حکم اعدام|date=15 September 2020|website=Iran Human Rights Monitor|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>
Furthermore, apparently the family of Torkman was about to agree to drop their call for qisas. They were to have a meeting to discuss the matter with the other side the day Afkari was announced dead. His brother receives the news of Afkari's death through a call shortly before his plane was due to depart for Shiraz in order to go and visit the Torkmans. And so that adds to the lead that this was a politically-motivated murder of Afkari by the regime, as had the Torkman family would have dropped their call for qisas, Afkari should have been spared.<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Stuard|date=17 September 2020|title=With 'hasty' execution of wrestler, Iran sends defiant message to world|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-hasty-execution-of-wrestler-iran-sends-defiant-message-to-world/#gs.giq9jf|work=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC1a"/>


Allegations were made by witnesses that Afkari had been tortured prior to execution. There were signs of blunt trauma on Afkari's body, his face was deformed and he had a broken nose.<ref name="BBC1a"/> The family members were only allowed to see Afkari's face and they were forbidden from seeing his body.<ref name=II20200914>{{cite web|url=https://iranintl.com/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/%D8%AC%D8%B2%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D8%B4%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%87-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AA-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%AA|title=جزییات تازه از مرگ نوید افکاری در زندان: احتمال کشته شدن نوید در اثر شکنجه قوت گرفت|date=14 September 2020|website=Iran International|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> The cloth with which his body had been carried to the burial was stained with blood from the inside. These accounts led to suspicions that the official version of Afkari's execution had been intended to forestall public anger.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fa.iran-hrm.com/%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DA%A9-%D9%86/|title=پرونده نوید افکاری و اظهارات بابک پاک نیا از "ابهام های عجیب" در اجرای حکم|date=15 September 2020|website=Iran Human Rights Monitor|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fa.iran-hrm.com/%d8%a7%d8%ad%d8%aa%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%ac%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%ae%d8%aa%d9%86-%d9%86%d9%88%db%8c%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%81%da%a9%d8%a7%d8%b1%db%8c-%d8%b2%db%8c%d8%b1-%d8%b4%da%a9%d9%86%d8%ac%d9%87/|title=احتمال جان باختن نوید افکاری زیر شکنجه – جزییات تازه ای افشا می شود|date=15 September 2020|website=Iran Human Rights Monitor|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=II20200914/>
Moreover and based on the law, any prisoner on the death row can have a meeting with their family the day prior to their execution. Also their family would be notified when their child is a day or two away from execution. Not only was Afkari stripped of his right to see his mother or father, but also their family did not know either that their son was about to be executed.<ref name="BBC1a"/> It just happened so abruptly. The last voice call from Afkari was made at night and hours before his death, during which he is completely unaware of his fate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fa.iran-hrm.com/%d8%a2%d8%ae%d8%b1%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%aa%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%b3-%d9%86%d9%88%db%8c%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%81%da%a9%d8%a7%d8%b1%db%8c-%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88-%d8%a8%db%8c-%d8%ae%d8%a8%d8%b1/|title=آخرین تماس نوید افکاری از زندان و بی خبری او از اجرای حکم اعدام|date=15 September 2020|publisher=]|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref>


Members of the ] held protest vigils in cities worldwide, including ],<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=2021-04-19|title=Iran's regime destroyed grave of executed champion wrestler|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/irans-regime-destroyed-grave-of-executed-champion-wrestler-652649|work= ]}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite news|first=Sarah|last=Petz|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/protest-navid-afkari-iran-winnipeg-1.5730936|title=Manitoba's Iranian community protests execution of athlete allegedly tortured into false murder confession|date=September 18, 2020|work=]}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Edmonton's Iranian community holds rally to protest execution of wrestler Navid Afkari {{!}} CBC News|language=en-US|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/zavid-afkari-rally-edmonton-1.5731509|access-date=2021-04-05}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-15|title=Protest gegen Hinrichtung des iranischen Ringers Navid Afkari|url=https://www.fr.de/frankfurt/frankfurt-protest-gegen-hinrichtung-des-iranischen-ringers-navid-afkari-90044843.html|access-date=2021-04-05|website=www.fr.de|language=de}}</ref> ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].
On top of all that, according to the witnesses, there were clear signs of blunt trauma on Afkari's body. His face was deformed and he had a broken nose.<ref name="BBC1a"/> The family members were only allowed to see Afkari's face and they were forbidden from seeing his body.<ref name=II20200914>{{cite web|url=https://iranintl.com/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/%D8%AC%D8%B2%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D8%B4%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%87-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AA-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%AA|title=جزییات تازه از مرگ نوید افکاری در زندان: احتمال کشته شدن نوید در اثر شکنجه قوت گرفت|date=14 September 2020|publisher=Iran International|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> The cloth with which his body was carried to the burial was stained with blood from the inside. This begs the question as was this an actual execution by hanging or perhaps it was a mishap where Afkari had been tortured to death, so officials said he was executed in order to avoid an even greater public anger.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fa.iran-hrm.com/%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DA%A9-%D9%86/|title=پرونده نوید افکاری و اظهارات بابک پاک نیا از "ابهام های عجیب" در اجرای حکم|date=15 September 2020|publisher=Iran Human Rights Monitor|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fa.iran-hrm.com/%d8%a7%d8%ad%d8%aa%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%ac%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%ae%d8%aa%d9%86-%d9%86%d9%88%db%8c%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%81%da%a9%d8%a7%d8%b1%db%8c-%d8%b2%db%8c%d8%b1-%d8%b4%da%a9%d9%86%d8%ac%d9%87/|title=احتمال جان باختن نوید افکاری زیر شکنجه – جزییات تازه ای افشا می شود|date=15 September 2020|publisher=Iran Human Rights Monitor|language=fa|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=II20200914/>


==Sister's arrest==
The ] held vigils in cities all around the world, notably in ],<ref>{{cite news|last=Baisch|first=Beth|date=15 September 2020|title=Protestors gather in Toronto to mourn death of wrestler at the hands of murderous Iranian regime|url=https://thepostmillennial.com/protestors-gather-in-toronto-to-mourn-death-of-wrestler-at-the-hands-of-iran/|work=]|language=en|access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref> ],<ref>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/protest-navid-afkari-iran-winnipeg-1.5730936</ref> ],<ref>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/zavid-afkari-rally-edmonton-1.5731509</ref> ],<ref>https://www.fr.de/frankfurt/frankfurt-protest-gegen-hinrichtung-des-iranischen-ringers-navid-afkari-90044843.html</ref> ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] in order to commemorate the life of Afkari and also to condemn the Islamic Republic's actions in taking his life without a fair trial.
Elham Afkari, Navid's sister, was arrested on November 10, 2022 amidst the ] following the ]. Iranian officials have charged her with being an agent of ], the opposition television broadcaster which was recently called a “terrorist” organization by the Iranian intelligence minister. She is in the custody of ].<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|date=10 November 2022|title=Sister of executed Iranian wrestler arrested and identified by state news as 'agent' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/sport/sister-navid-afkari-iran-international-intl-spt/index.html|work=cnn.com|language=en|access-date=12 November 2022}}</ref>


==In popular culture== ==In popular culture==
Navid and his death was the inspiration for the song titled '''Navid Azadi''' (lit. beacon of freedom) by Iranian artist ].<ref>https://twitter.com/kingraam/status/1319282958230982656</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaBChBB2hzk&ab_channel=KingRaam-Topic</ref> Afkari and his death was the inspiration for the song titled ''Navid Azadi'' (lit. beacon of freedom) by Iranian artist ].<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1319282958230982656|first=Ramin|last= Seyed-Emami|title=برای تمامِ نوید افکاری های ایرانبرای تمام جوان هایی که در راه آزادی رفتند برای آبانبرای شما که نویدِ آزادی را فریاد زدید|user=@kingraam|access-date=5 April 2021|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Navid Azadi| date=22 October 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaBChBB2hzk|language=en|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref>

A campaign in the name of "United For Navid" was founded by Iranian journalist and women’s rights activist ] to draw attention to Iran's Islamic republic regime’s abuse of Iranian athletes' human rights.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why The Iranian Regime's Murder Of A Champion Wrestler Matters |url=https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2021/09/08/why-murder-of-a-champion-wrestler-matters/ |website=FDD |access-date=14 January 2022 |date=8 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Iranian athletes at Tokyo Olympics remember murdered wrestler Navid Afkari |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/iranian-athletes-tokyo-olympics-navid-afkari |website=Fox News |access-date=14 January 2022 |date=4 August 2021}}</ref>

The 2021 art project ] was inspired by Afkari.<ref name="To Protest Iran’s Anti-Gay Abuses, an Artist Painted a Dictator’s Car">{{cite news |last1=Berk |first1=Brett |title=To Protest Iran's Anti-Gay Abuses, an Artist Painted a Dictator's Car |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/01/business/art-car-iran.html |access-date=25 November 2022 |work=] |date=1 November 2021}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline|Navid Afkari}}
{{List of political prisoners of Iran}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Afkari, Navid}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Afkari, Navid}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
] ]
] ]
Line 158: Line 147:
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 10:56, 31 December 2024

Iranian wrestler (1994–2020)

Navid Afkari
Personal information
Native nameنوید افکاری سنگری
Birth nameNavid Afkari Sangari
Born(1993-07-22)22 July 1993
Shiraz, Iran
Died12 September 2020(2020-09-12) (aged 27)
Adel-Abaad prison, Shiraz, Iran
Resting placeSangar, Sepidan County
NationalityIranian
OccupationWrestler
Years active2002–2015
Criminal charge(s)Alleged murder of security agent, organizing a group, participating in protests
Criminal penaltyDeath
Criminal statusExecuted
FamilyHabib, Saeid, Vahid (brothers), Elham (sister)

Navid Afkari Sangari (Persian: نوید افکاری سنگری; 22 July 1993 – 12 September 2020) was an Iranian wrestler who was sentenced to death and executed in Shiraz after having been accused and convicted of murdering a security guard during the 2018 Iranian protests; sources from outside Iran also cited convictions on other charges related to Afkari's participation in the protests, while Iranian sources denied that the case had any connection to the protests. Afkari had filed a complaint with the Iranian judiciary, and stated in an audiotape recording that was smuggled from prison, that his initial confession had been obtained under torture; the Iranian judiciary denied the torture claims, and Iranian state media broadcast a recording of the confession. There were worldwide calls for Afkari to be pardoned, including by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, and by then U.S. president Donald Trump. Afkari's brothers Vahid and Habib were sentenced to 54 and 27 years, respectively, in prison in the same case.

In September 2020 the United States blacklisted several Iranian officials and entities over alleged gross violations of human rights that also included Navid Afkari's execution.

Wrestling career

Navid Afkari had been a wrestler, having discovered the sport at the age of nine, and had participated in several national Iranian wrestling events. In 2008 he was ranked 2nd in the 69 kg category in youth Greco-Roman wrestling. In 2016 he ranked 8th place nationally in the 71 kg category for Greco-Roman wrestling.

Arrest and charges

Afkari was arrested for the murder of Hasan Turkman, who worked as a security guard for Water and Sewage company of Shiraz, on 17 September 2018.

The Turkman was murdered on the night of 1 August 2018 (on 2 August 2018 according to the official version) while returning home from work. According to the Iranian Criminal Investigation Police, Afkari was arrested after he was identified in CCTV footage from nearby the murder scene. That Afkari had been identified by police via the footage was later reported to be the version of events that was prevailing inside Iran.

In audio clips released (or according to another source, leaked) from the court, Afkari stated that he had not played a role in the murder of Turkman. According to Afkari's lawyer Ali Younesi, there was no evidence linking him to that case. In an interview with "Emtedad" news network that was published by Deutsche Welle, Younesi claimed the sentencing court had been influenced by two sources that they claim showed Afkari as the murderer. According to Younesi, the court used CCTV footage of a street near where Turkman was found dead, but showed the scene before Turkman's death. Footage from the moment when the felony took place was claimed to not exist.

The video was reported to show Afkari walking on the sidewalk while talking on the phone. According to audio recordings from the court, Afkari had requested that the video be presented to the court, which head judge Mehrdad Tahmtan refused.

In addition to the CCTV footage, the court used eye-witness accounts as the other evidence for linking Afkari with Turkman's murder case. The accounts were later dropped by the people that initially testified against Afkari. One testified under pressure, another said that their testimony was not right or accurate and another one mentioned that they had met Afkari for the first time during the court.

For his involvement in the protests, and further the alleged murder case, the court led by the head judge, Mehrdad Tahmtan, sentenced Afkari with two capital punishments.

After that, Afkari found this ruling unjust, and he voiced his concerns. In one of his voice calls from the Adel-Abaad prison, he said:

My audience are noble people that have a bit of honor in them. Your complacency means rooting for oppression and the oppressor. It means supporting the execution of an innocent. Means I will be getting closer, step-by-step, to the hanging platform.

He insisted his innocence stating:

People! It is only logical that I will fight for my life; and as per the evidence, all clues are an affirmation to my innocence. All the evidence that we have collected and everything that I am saying right now, is only here to let you know that if I ever get executed, in the 21st century and with all the human right organizations, the UN or security council or the whatever else, an innocent human being, which had tried to the best of his might and fought, to have his voice heard, was hanged.

He warned people about the systemic corruption infesting the judiciary system of Iran and how innocent lives get taken by their unjust rulings, stating:

Know and be aware that if the innocent me gets executed, this won't be the first victim of the unfairness of this so-called 'justice-oriented' unjust court".

Forced confessions

While Afkari initially issued a confession accepting the murder charge, he would later take it back stating he had been tortured into making a false confession. As per the audio recordings released by the court, Afkari's request to summon the witness who testified about his torture was ignored by the judge.

During the hearings in the privately held court, Afkari stated:

I told the inspector that neither do I know the secret agent (that has been killed), nor have I heard his name! But under torture, and to save my family, and for Vahid (one of his imprisoned brothers), I gave them what they wanted.

His parents sent a letter to the chief justice of Iran claiming their son endured torture.

In one of his last recordings from prison, Afkari said:

Once I had been freed from the pressure of solitary confinement, the basement, and the tortures, once I stepped back onto the prison, I immediately wrote to the judicial offices and filed my complaint (against their use of torture) and screamed (my innocence); that I am not a murderer. I requested them to take me to the forensics bureau (for medical examinations of his scars). Per their report and eye-witness account (of my torture) and other evidence, it was made clear that I had been tortured. No matter the countless times I wrote (and pleaded) that all my confessions were obtained under (pressure and) torture; or how there is not a single shred of evidence in this damned case that could prove my guilt, but they did not want to hear our voice. I figured they were looking for a neck for their noose.

Death sentence

Afkari was given two death sentences for his charges. According to human rights activists in Iran, his brothers Vahid and Habib were sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison for charges stemming from the same case, as well as 74 lashes each. In a tweet from 1 May 2021, journalist and activist Masih Alinejad said that Vahid was subjected to pressure to make forced confessions under the threat of execution.

Reactions

Navid Afkari appearing in a mural commemorating the victims of the Islamic regime in Iran, in Nazareth. (Secound up from the right)

Afkari's death sentence sparked global outrage and calls to overturn his execution. U.S. President Donald Trump, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White all petitioned Iran not to execute Afkari. Trump tweeted on 4 September 2020:

Hearing that Iran is looking to execute a great and popular wrestling star, 27-year-old Navid Afkarai , whose sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets. They were protesting the “country’s worsening economic situation and inflation”. To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man’s life, and not execute him. Thank you!

U.S. State Department spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, tweeted: "We join the world in outrage at the Iranian regime's death sentence for Navid Afkari, who was tortured into giving a false confession after participating in peaceful protests in 2018. The regime also tortured his two brothers and sentenced them to decades in prison. Let them go!"

The World Players Association urged for the Iranian judiciary to issue a stay of execution.

Iran's state-sponsored Tasnim News Agency dismissed Trump's tweet in a feature story, saying that US sanctions had hurt Iranian hospitals amid the pandemic, "Trump is worried about the life of a murderer while he puts many Iranian patients' lives in danger by imposing severe sanctions," the agency said.

Potential banning of Iran from the Olympics

There have been talks about whether Iran should be banned from the Olympic Games. Australian sports administrator Brendan Schwab, executive director of the Switzerland-based World Players Association, which represents tens of thousands of professional athletes around the world, said that:

We can't think of a more grievous attack on the humanitarian values of the Olympic movement than the horrific execution of an athlete through a coerced confession obtained through torture.

Schwab stated that Afkari's execution "must result in Iran forfeiting its right to be a part of sport's universal community".

Death and burial

On 12 September 2020, it was announced that Afkari had been executed. His body was buried at night-time with high-security presence; only Afkari's immediate family members attended.

Afkari's supporters raised several points of doubt regarding the official version of the execution. Afkari was supposedly executed in the month of Muharram, during which the executions are not supposed to take place from the legal provisions, as it is considered forbidden (haram) to kill during that month by sharia law, also written in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

There were also reports that the family of Turkman was about to agree to drop their call for qisas (retribution). They were to have a meeting to discuss the matter with the other side the day Afkari was announced dead. His brother received the news of Afkari's death through a call shortly before his plane was due to depart for Shiraz in order to go and visit the Turkmans.

Afkari's lawyer Younesi said that his client had been denied a last meeting with family before execution, in violation of Iranian law. There were also claims that the legally required notification of family about execution, one or two day in advance, had not been made. In the last voice call from Afkari made hours before his death, he still appeared to have been completely unaware of his impending execution.

Allegations were made by witnesses that Afkari had been tortured prior to execution. There were signs of blunt trauma on Afkari's body, his face was deformed and he had a broken nose. The family members were only allowed to see Afkari's face and they were forbidden from seeing his body. The cloth with which his body had been carried to the burial was stained with blood from the inside. These accounts led to suspicions that the official version of Afkari's execution had been intended to forestall public anger.

Members of the Iranian diaspora held protest vigils in cities worldwide, including Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Frankfurt, Paris, Berlin, London, Gothenburg, The Hague, Bern, Brussels, Copenhagen, Rome, Malmö, Hamburg and Washington.

Sister's arrest

Elham Afkari, Navid's sister, was arrested on November 10, 2022 amidst the nationwide protests in Iran following the Death of Mahsa Amini. Iranian officials have charged her with being an agent of Iran International, the opposition television broadcaster which was recently called a “terrorist” organization by the Iranian intelligence minister. She is in the custody of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence.

In popular culture

Afkari and his death was the inspiration for the song titled Navid Azadi (lit. beacon of freedom) by Iranian artist King Raam.

A campaign in the name of "United For Navid" was founded by Iranian journalist and women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad to draw attention to Iran's Islamic republic regime’s abuse of Iranian athletes' human rights.

The 2021 art project PaykanArtCar was inspired by Afkari.

See also

References

  1. "Iran sentences tortured protester to death; 2 brothers to 81 years of prison". Iran News Wire. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  2. ^ Riddell, Don (28 June 2021). "Navid Afkari: Executed Iranian wrestling star's voice is 'everywhere now'". CNN News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. Staff writers (12 September 2020). "Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed - state media". Reuters. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  4. ^ Fassihi, Farnaz; Olster, Marjorie (12 September 2020). "Iran Executes Wrestler Accused of Murder After He Took Part in 2018 Protests". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Navid Afkari: Iran executes young wrestler despite global outcry". BBC News. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. "Iran executes champion wrestler Navid Afkari despite global outcry". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  7. "Iran Court Passes Double Death Sentence On Protester In Shiraz". Radio Farda. 30 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari executed, says state media". Al Jazeera News. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  9. ^ Safi, Michael (12 September 2020). "Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed despite global outcry". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  10. Pamuk, Humeyra; Psaledakis, Daphne (24 September 2020). "U.S. imposes new Iran sanctions over human rights violations". Reuters.com. Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernadette Baum and Tom Brown. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  11. ^ کشتی, روابط عمومی فدراسیون. "فدراسیون کشتی". فدراسیون کشتی (in Persian). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. ^ Moshtaghian, Artemis; Alam, Hande Atay; Mostaghim, Ramin; Ramsay, George (9 September 2020). "Iran urged not to execute champion wrestler Navid Afkari". CNN. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  13. Khan, Sami (12 September 2020). "Navid Afkari executed; Iran ignores international outcry, hangs champion wrestler". International Business Times, India Edition.
  14. "قتل فجیع کارمند سازمان آب منطقه‌ای شیراز به دست نوید افکاری". خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency. 31 August 2020.
  15. ^ Shahrabi, Shima (26 September 2020). "Who are the Iranian judges sanctioned by the US?". iranwire.com. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  16. "وکیل نوید افکاری فیلم مورد استناد دادگاه را بی‌اعتبار دانست". Deutsche Welle (in Persian). 1 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  17. ^ Seifikaran, Farzad (4 September 2020). "پرونده برادران افکاری: چرا قوه قضائیه دروغ می‌گوید؟". Radio Zamaneh (in Persian). Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  18. "وکیل نوید افکاری درستی فیلم مورد ادعای قوه قضائیه را رد کرد؛ حمایت دو فرنگی‌کار". Radio Farda (in Persian). 1 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  19. Vahdat, Amir (12 September 2020). "Iran executes pro-wrestler Navid Afkari despite global campaign for his release". Global News. Associated Press. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  20. "سازمان حقوق بشر ایران فایلی صوتی از دادگاه نوید افکاری منتشر کرد". Radio Farda (in Persian). 16 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  21. "دروغ و تحریف در پرونده نوید افکاری • مروری بر برخی موارد". Deutsche Welle (in Persian). 13 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  22. "برادران افکاری، سه متهم سیاسی و یک پرونده قتل؛ خبرگزاری میزان دروغ می‌گوید". Iran International (in Persian). 2 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  23. ^ Amirshahi, Farnoush (14 September 2020). "ساعت‌های پرابهام؛ پرونده‌ای که با اعدام نوید افکاری بسته نشد". BBC News (in Persian). Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  24. "با مهرداد تهمتن "قاضی" صادر کننده حکم ۲ بار اعدام برای نوید افکاری آشنا شوید". ettelaat.net (in Persian). 1 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  25. "قاضی جلادی که به نوید افکاری حکم ۲ بار اعدام داد را بشناسید!". iranglobal.info (in Persian). 14 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  26. "Tortured and at Risk of Execution for Taking Part in 2018 Protests". IranWire. 2 September 2020.
  27. ^ "فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari". YouTube. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Navid Afkari: Iran executes young wrestler despite global outcry". BBC News. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  29. "نامه پدر و مادر برادران افکاری؛ تا آثار ضرب و شتم هست آنان را به پزشکی قانونی ببرید". BBC News. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  30. "فايل صوتى نويد افكارى /The Voice of Navid Afkari". YouTube. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  31. Weinthal, Benjamin (3 May 2021). "Iran's regime threatens to execute brother of wrestler Navid Afkari". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari executed despite international campaign". CNN. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  33. ^ "Navid Afkari: Trump urges Iran not to execute champion wrestler". BBC News. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  34. "German gov't to Post: Iranian wrestler must not be executed". The Jerusalem Post. 6 September 2020.
  35. "Iran broadcasts wrestler's confession following Trump tweet". The Hill. 6 September 2020.
  36. Halaschak, Zachary (12 September 2020). "Iran executes wrestler Navid Afkari despite pleas from Trump and Dana White". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  37. "Iran executes wrestler whose life Trump asked to be spared". Politico. 12 September 2020.
  38. Barrett, Chris (18 September 2020). "'Miscarriage of justice': Australian leads call for Olympics to kick out Iran". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  39. Barrett, Chris (18 September 2020). ""'Miscarriage of justice': Australian leads call for Olympics to kick out Iran"". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  40. Barrett, Chris (15 September 2020). "Coates suggests Iran Olympic ban unlikely despite wrestler's execution". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  41. ^ "محکومیت جهانی اعدام نوید افکاری؛ ابراز نگرانی کارشناسان ارشد سازمان ملل". BBC News فارسی. 14 September 2020.
  42. Williams, Stuard (17 September 2020). "With 'hasty' execution of wrestler, Iran sends defiant message to world". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  43. "آخرین تماس نوید افکاری از زندان و بی خبری او از اجرای حکم اعدام". Iran Human Rights Monitor (in Persian). 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  44. ^ "جزییات تازه از مرگ نوید افکاری در زندان: احتمال کشته شدن نوید در اثر شکنجه قوت گرفت". Iran International (in Persian). 14 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  45. "پرونده نوید افکاری و اظهارات بابک پاک نیا از "ابهام های عجیب" در اجرای حکم". Iran Human Rights Monitor (in Persian). 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  46. "احتمال جان باختن نوید افکاری زیر شکنجه – جزییات تازه ای افشا می شود". Iran Human Rights Monitor (in Persian). 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  47. "Iran's regime destroyed grave of executed champion wrestler". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  48. Petz, Sarah (18 September 2020). "Manitoba's Iranian community protests execution of athlete allegedly tortured into false murder confession". CBC News.
  49. "Edmonton's Iranian community holds rally to protest execution of wrestler Navid Afkari | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  50. "Protest gegen Hinrichtung des iranischen Ringers Navid Afkari". www.fr.de (in German). 15 September 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  51. "Sister of executed Iranian wrestler arrested and identified by state news as 'agent'". cnn.com. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  52. Seyed-Emami, Ramin (22 October 2020). "برای تمامِ نوید افکاری های ایرانبرای تمام جوان هایی که در راه آزادی رفتند برای آبانبرای شما که نویدِ آزادی را فریاد زدید" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 April 2021 – via Twitter.
  53. Navid Azadi, 22 October 2020, retrieved 5 April 2021
  54. "Why The Iranian Regime's Murder Of A Champion Wrestler Matters". FDD. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  55. "Iranian athletes at Tokyo Olympics remember murdered wrestler Navid Afkari". Fox News. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  56. Berk, Brett (1 November 2021). "To Protest Iran's Anti-Gay Abuses, an Artist Painted a Dictator's Car". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 November 2022.

External links

Political prisoners in Iran
Activists
Actors
Artists
Athletes
Bloggers
Doctors
Filmmakers
Journalists
Lawyers
Military
Musicians
Programmer
Poets
Politicians
Scientists
Writers
Category:Political prisoners in Iran
Categories: