The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has condemned the killing of young wrestler Navid Afkari over the death of a public sector worker, Hossein Torkman during anti-government protests that took place in August 2018.
While announcing Afkari’s death on Iranian State Television’s website, Provincial Prosecutor General, Kazem Mousavi said Afkari was killed at a prison in the southern city of Shiraz.
The judiciary has declared Afkari guilty of “voluntary homicide” for stabbing to Hossein Torkman to death.
On the day of Torkman’s murder, Shiraz and other cities in Iranian were witnessed series of anti-government protests and demonstrations over economic hardship.
Reports have it that Afkari was condemned on the basis of confessions he made under torture and the IOC has reacted to his death and expressed their disappointment at his execution in spite of their pleas.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it was “shocked” by Afkari’s execution.
While expressing the shock on Twitter, IOC wrote: “The IOC is shocked by this announcement today.”
The President of the IOC, Thomas Bach made direct appeals to the Supreme Leader and to the President of Iran recently and begged for mercy for Navid Afkari, while duly respecting the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Bach in his reactions said: “It is deeply upsetting that the pleas of athletes from around the world and all the behind-the-scenes work of the IOC, together with the NOC of Iran, United World Wrestling and the National Iranian Wrestling Federation, did not achieve our goal.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Navid Afkari.”
United States President, Donald Trump pleaded for Afkari’s life earlier this month saying that his “sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets”.
In his plea, Trump tweeted: “To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man’s life, and not execute him. Thank you!”
