Germany Calls for Suspension of Navid Afkari’s Death Sentence
Bärbel Kofler, the human rights officer at the German Foreign Ministry, protested against lengthy prison sentences imposed on the Afkari brothers, including the death sentence against Navid Afkari. Navid Afkari has been sentenced to death for participating in the protests of August 2018.
Bärbel Kofler, the human rights officer at the German Foreign Ministry, in a press statement released on Friday, September 20 (September 10) on the German Foreign Ministry’s website, expressed concern about the sentences issued against the Afkari brothers and stated that these three young men have been sentenced to harsh punishments for protesting against the government, and she is “horrified” by the sentences issued.
In part of Ms. Bärbel Kofler’s press statement, it states: “I call on Iranian officials to suspend the death penalty against Navid Afkari and to give him, as well as his brothers Vahid and Habib, the opportunity for fair and legal due process.”
The human rights officer of the German Foreign Ministry emphasized in her statement that obtaining confessions and statements under torture and abuse is unacceptable and not in accordance with the law.
She further added: “These cases demonstrate that the human rights situation in Iran is continuously deteriorating and Iran is not adhering to the international commitments it has accepted.”
In Bärbel Kofler’s press statement, it was emphasized: “The German government rejects the death penalty as a cruel and inhuman punishment under any circumstances. Germany, together with its partners in the European Union, has been strongly fighting for years to end capital punishment around the world.”
Navid Afkari, a vice champion in Iranian youth wrestling, has been sentenced to death twice on charges of murdering a security officer at the Shiraz Water Authority and “enmity against God” and participating in the 2018 protests. Vahid and Habib Afkari have been sentenced to 54 years and six months in prison and 27 years and three months in prison, respectively. All three have also been sentenced to 74 lashes in addition.
The charges against these three brothers by the Shiraz Revolutionary Court were stated as “forming a group,” “murdering a security force officer,” and “participating in nationwide protests” in August 2018. These protests began during a sharp increase in the price of the dollar and gold and quickly spread from Isfahan and Karaj to other cities including Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.
Solidarity of German Athletes with Navid Afkari
Navid Afkari’s death sentence has occupied the media and political and sports circles in Germany. German politicians and many famous and prominent German athletes, while expressing solidarity with Navid Afkari, called on Iranian authorities to suspend Navid Afkari’s death sentence.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, announced that he is “deeply concerned” about the death sentence of the 27-year-old Iranian wrestler.
While emphasizing that he respects the sovereignty and judicial systems of countries, he stated that contacts have been established with the Iran Olympic Committee and the national wrestling federation of that country, and they are supposed to use all their capabilities to find a solution in the Afkari case.
Alfonso Hermann, president of the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB), also expressed that he monitors Afkari’s situation with “grave concern.”
Alfonso said: “We, along with worldwide protests by politicians and athletes, call on Iran’s leadership to suspend the death sentence (of Afkari) and to provide him with the opportunity for a fair trial, which is one of the most fundamental human rights.”
Iran’s Response to International Calls for Cancellation of Navid Afkari’s Death Sentence
The spokesman of the Judiciary in his latest comments regarding Navid Afkari said that his sentence is “not execution, but rather retribution” and the nature of these two legally differ from each other.
Gholamhossein Esmaili, while emphasizing that Navid Afkari “killed a person,” said: “A retribution sentence has been issued and it is the right of the blood relatives, and the person himself reconstructed the scene, the court was open and he had a lawyer and he confessed himself, and now on the basis of the aspect of the rights of the people, the court has issued a retribution sentence.”
The spokesman of the Judiciary in his latest comments regarding Navid Afkari said that his sentence is “not execution, but rather retribution” and the nature of these two legally differ from each other.
He described the wave of solidarity with the young Iranian wrestler as resulting from “the enemy’s attempt to create a narrative” and said: “We do not consider the enemy worthy of respect.”
Source: DW
