Wrestler sentenced to death in Iran for protests

National wrestler champion in Iran Navid Afkari (27) is due to be executed. The Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran upheld the death sentence, according to local media. He and his two brothers Vahid (35) and Habib (29) were also sentenced to long prison terms and lashes,Olaylar reports via iranian sources.

The alleged protests against the regime in Kazerun and Shiraz in 2018, the joint reunification and the murder of a security agent are indicted. The list of charges is long, but "most of the allegations were based on weak arguments," an informed source told "Iran International".

Navid and Vahid were, according to the source and their own testimony, "severely tortured in order to make a forced confession". Apparently, this ill-treatment was mentioned by witnesses, but was ignored in the judgment. The two brothers affirm their innocence in audio messages, mention the lack of evidence and report physical and psychological torture during their detention.

There are many eminent voices outraged by the verdicts. They call for an end to executions in Iran. Bahia Namjoo, mother of the condemned brothers, shares her pain in a video message: "They carried out an unfair and wrong process in which my children could not defend themselves at all. All of these charges were brought against them, and without evidence against them, they were tried and convicted. "

In conclusion, she said: "I ask all the people of the world and all who hear my voice to help me with the unjust judgments they have pronounced on my children."