Navid Afkari

Navid Afkari was born in 1993 and from Shiraz, Iran, he was an Iranian wrestler who was sentenced to death by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, On September 12th he was hanged Saturday morning in Adelabad prison in the city of Shiraz.

Afkari participated in a peaceful 2018 protest against government policies but he was accused of stabbing a water supply company employee during the protests. Furthermore, it is believed the regime wanted to make an example of him because of his high profile in the country.

Courts in Shiraz had imposed two death sentences on Afkari, and six years and six months in prison and 74 lashes. However, he was hanged despite the widespread international outcries in Iran and around the world to stop his execution.

Navid Afkari was arrested on September 17, 2018, and accused of killing a Basij agent Hasan Turkman, Trump tweeted “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,” and added, “To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man’s life, and not execute him.”

After Trump Tweet, Iran had responded with a state TV package of footage that included the employee Hassan Torkaman’s parents and footage of Afkari saying he had stabbed the man in the back.

Who is Navid Afka?

He was a Greco-Roman wrestler, on September 6th he made a short phone call to his family and said that he was being held in a wing of Adelabad prison in the city of Shiraz that has high security and harsh conditions before the call was cut off.

His family was told that he had been hanged, The International Olympic Committee as well as the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Dana White, had also urged that Afkari be spared.

Iran executed at least 251 people last year, according to Amnesty International, the second-highest in the world after China. On 3 September 2020, Navid Afkari was moved from the general ward by prison authorities to an undisclosed location. The move came after a voice recording of Navid Afkari pleading for help from the international community went viral on social media, sparking a global outcry.

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.

Family

How old was Navid Afkari? He was born in 1993 and from Shiraz, Iran, he was 27 years old during his time of death.

He has two brother’s named Vahid Afkari and Habib Afkari, they both also sentenced to 56 years and six months in prison.

Navid is the son of Hossein Afkari (father) and Bahieh Namjoo (mother).