Biography
The champion of the country in the Greek-Roman wrestling could be glorifying their homeland and enter his name in history. However, the achievements of Navid Afkari in sports today have moved to the background, because his name will forever be connected with the repressions of the authorities against the manifestations. And, perhaps, will become a symbol of a new war with injustice.On the personal life of the Iranian fighter knows little. Born in the city of Shiraz, in the south of Iran, in 1993. He is the youngest of three sons Bahi hung. Senior Brothers - Vahid and Habib, and Afkari has a sister. In his biography, only rewards and titles are transferred - twice became the champion of the country. In the life of Navid, the struggle stood in the first place. And she was the cause of his death.
Casman
In Iran, in the summer of 2018, mass demonstrations associated with the deterioration of the economic situation were held. The growth of unemployment, the devaluation of the national currency - all these factors of the opposition were imputed to the values of the current government. The cause of unemployment and poverty, considered the protesters, was the wasteful economic policy of the state, which at the same time financially helped other countries - Palestine, Yemen, Iraq.
The currency crisis also worried about the family of Afkari. Three brothers came to one of these protests. However, the death sentence was announced only in relation to Navid. The thing is that the ex-athlete has been incriminated not only to participation in illegal rallies, blasphemy and insult to the Supreme Leader, but also the murder.
The prosecution was built on the fact that Afkari Jr. took advantage of the turmoil on the street and attacked the security agent. A wrestler using cold weapons, allegedly hit the knife in the back. In 2018, a month after the murder, he was arrested with two other brothers.
And there, according to the mother of the sons of the sons, the most severe torture applied against men. They were placed in single cameras individually and tried to achieve recognition in organizing combat groups to overthrow the current power and, mainly from Habib and Vakhid that Navid committed murder.
According to Mother, children went through this hell. They were sulfilled by packages, beaten by clubs, dwarked ears and poured alcohol through the nostrils. Vahid tried three times to commit suicide. Navid stood to the last, but also a professional fighter two-year torture broke.
Subsequently, each of the brothers argued that the confessions were given under pressure. Bahi hung up to the public with a request to help children and restore justice.
In particular, the parents of Navid appealed to the Ebrass of Raisi, demanding a medical examination of the sons from the head of the judiciary. However, the investigations did not happen, and the accusations of relatives in the beatings and torture were not confirmed.
The world community has not remained aside from the unfair process. The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) wrote a letter to the President of Iraq, in which he asked the Supreme Leader to free an athlete. At the same time, Thomas Bach indicated that he recognizes and respect the sovereignty of the Islamic state.
Dane White, the current UFC President, also did not remain indifferent to blatant injustice. On his page in "Instagram" he laid out a video table with an appeal to the Iranian authorities, and also asked for help from Donald Trump. White considered that in such matters issues of nationality, politicians and religions should move themselves into the background.
Trump, in turn, in the personal account in Twitter wrote that he asked to spare the life of a restlore, who simply opposed the worsening situation in the country.
However, the appeals from influential personalities remained unanswered. Three Afkari family brothers were convicted. Vahuhu will have to serve in the Iranian prison of 54 years. Habibu "lucky" more: His term is 27 years old.
In the sentence of Navid - two death penalty for crimes committed. The family lawyer tried to cancel the decision and filed an appeal, but the Supreme Court rejected it. The family of the victim refused to make material compensation and demanded that the killer would pay life for the deed.
At the beginning of September, video was published on television, which demonstrated the wrestle testimony. And yet - shooting from the investigative experiment, on which the former fighter showed how to strike a knife. In one of the last prison audio recordings, twice the champion of the country reported that he made himself.
The sentence was carried out in the early morning of September 12, 2020. By the way, the fighter of mixed martial arts was hastily buried, at the same time did not allow the mother to look at the face of the son. In the media immediately spread information that unbearable torture became the true cause of death, and not hanging.
Photo Afkari, which appeared in news reports on the same day, became viral. The world community was shocked by the fact that the Iranian authorities did not respond to requests for pardon. Prepared and accusations. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL organization called the accomplished criminal proceedings of the "Parody of Justice".
And Mike Pompeo, the American Secretary of State, and pointed out to the "blatant encroachment on human dignity."
Many are sure: the tragic story of Navid will entail irreversible consequences. Today it is not only about to cancel the death penalty in the Islamic state, but also on the ban of Iran to participate in international sports competitions.