Navid Afkari Sentenced to Two Death Sentences for Fake Crimes, White/Trump Step In

UPDATE: Since this story was run, the injustice of Navid Afkari has caught the eyes of UFC President, Dana White who has reached out to President Donald J. Trump in an attempt to save Afkari’s life. Watch White’s plea for Afkari’s life and President Trump’s response below:

Iran, please spare Navi’s Afkarai 🙏🏻 #SaveNavid pic.twitter.com/HMeZA1yFup

— danawhite (@danawhite) September 4, 2020

…To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man’s life, and not execute him. Thank you! @UFC @DanaWhite @FoxNews https://t.co/NkJb4IsQpt

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2020

ORIGINAL STORY:

Irani born wrestler, Navid Afkari, has been sentenced to death for attending anti-Iran regime rallies in 2018 and 2019. Afkari has claimed to be tortured in custody of the Irani government.

Iran’s Supreme Court has confirmed two death sentences for Afkari in addition to six years and six months in prison and 74 lashes. The barbaric punishment is a result of 20 different “crimes” which include “attending illegal gatherings, assembly and conspiracy to commit crimes against national security, and insulting the supreme leader.” Navid Afkari had no previous criminal record.

In addition to Afkari, his two brothers were also sentenced as well. His brother, Vahid Afkari, received 54 years in prison and Habib Afkari was given 27 years. Both will also receive 74 lashes as well.

Confessions were tortured out of Vahid and Navid. The US government has also made claims saying that, “Khamenei’s thugs tortured Navid to the point that he confessed to fake crimes.”

The Torture of Navid Afkari

Navid Afkari says he was tortured. The wrestler said that he had a plastic bag over his head and alcohol poured into his nostrils to get a confession out of him, something not acceptable in any corner of the world.

The protest started when the currency of Iran fell drastically. In 2018, the currency was at a 45,000:1 ratio to the US dollar and now sits at 237,500:1. The Irani government raised petrol prices 200%, sparking outrage from the Iran community.

The arrest becomes even more peculiar as news came out that Navid Afkari and his brothers were arrested by officers in street clothes without a warrant.

Iran execution is the second most used in the world behind only China. With so much instability in the region, many have called for an end to the executions in Iran.

You can support Navid Afkari and sign the petition on Change.org to save his life for crimes that are absolutely absurd. While Change.org doesn’t have any legal authority, especially in Iran, signing it will have your voice heard and loud enough, someone important might see the information and save Navid Afkari and his brother’s lives.