Germany calls for suspension of Navid Afkari's death sentence

Börbel Kofler, the human rights officer at the German Foreign Ministry, protested the long prison sentences of the Afkari brothers, including the death sentence of Navid Afkari. Navid Afkari was sentenced to death for participating in the August 2018 protests.

In a press release published on the German Foreign Ministry's website on Friday, September 10, Börbel Kofler, the human rights officer at the German Foreign Ministry, expressed concern about the sentences issued against the Afkari brothers, saying that the three young men were sentenced to heavy sentences for protesting against the government, and that she was "horrified" by the sentences.

Part of Ms. Brébel Kofler's press release states: "I call on the Iranian authorities to suspend the death penalty against Navid Afkari and to allow him, as well as his brothers Vahid and Habib, a fair trial in accordance with the law."

The German Foreign Ministry's human rights officer emphasized in his statement that obtaining confessions under torture is unacceptable and not in accordance with the law.

He added: "These cases show that the human rights situation in Iran is continuously deteriorating and that Iran is not complying with the international commitments it has accepted."

"The German government rejects the death penalty as a cruel and inhuman punishment under all circumstances," Börbel Kofler's press release emphasized. "Together with its partners in the European Union, Germany has been campaigning vigorously for many years to end the death penalty worldwide."

Navid Afkari, the vice-champion of Iran’s youth wrestling, has been sentenced to death twice for the murder of a security guard at the Shiraz Waterworks Department and for “moharebeh” and participating in the 1997 protests. Vahid and Habib Afkari have also 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.

The Shiraz Revolutionary Court has charged the three brothers with “forming a group,” “murdering a security officer,” and “participating in nationwide protests” in August 2018. These protests began amid the rapid increase in the price of the dollar and gold, and quickly spread from Isfahan and Karaj to other cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.

German athletes' solidarity with Navid Afkari

The execution of Navid Afkari has occupied the German media, political and ministerial circles. Politicians and many famous and prominent German athletes, while expressing solidarity with Navid Afkari, called on Iranian authorities to suspend his death sentence.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said he was "deeply concerned" by the death sentence handed down to a 27-year-old Iranian wrestler.

While emphasizing that he respects the sovereignty and judicial systems of countries, he said that contacts have been made with the Iranian Olympic Committee and the country's National Wrestling Federation, and they are going to use all their power to find a solution in the Afkari case.

Alphonse Herrmann, president of the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB), also said he was monitoring Afkari's situation "with great concern."

Alphonse said: "We, along with global protests from politicians and athletes, call on the Iranian leadership to suspend the death sentence (of Ikari) and provide him with a fair trial, which is one of the most basic human rights."

Iran's response to international calls to overturn Navid Afkari's death sentence

In his latest statement regarding Navid Afkari, the judiciary spokesman said that his sentence is "not execution, but retribution," and that the nature of the two is legally different.

Emphasizing that Navid Afkari "killed a person," Gholamhossein Esmaili said: "A retaliatory verdict has been issued and it is the right of the relatives of the deceased. The person himself reconstructed the scene, his trial was public, he had a lawyer, and he confessed himself. Now, based on the aspect of human rights, the court has issued a retaliatory verdict."

In his latest statement about Navid Afkari, the judiciary spokesman said that his sentence is "not execution, but retribution," and that the nature of the two is legally different.

He called the wave of solidarity with the young Iranian wrestler the result of “the enemy’s efforts to create a space” and said: “We do not respect the enemy.”

Source: DW