GLOBAL Athlete, an international organization of athletes, demanded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) to expel Iran following the execution of wrestling champion Navid Afkari.
Iranian state media reported that Afkari was executed over the weekend despite the case attracting global attention with US President Donald J. Trump pleading for clemency.
The 27-year-old Afkari was given two death sentences for allegedly stabbing a security guard to death and his involvement in demonstrations against the country’s regime in 2018.
The IOC and UWW said they were in “constant contact” with the Iranian National Olympic Committee and the Iranian Wrestling Federation to “facilitate a solution,” but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Since the execution, the IOC and UWW described the news as “very sad” and “devastating,” but Global Athlete urged the organizations to take further action.
“The Global Athlete extends its sincere condolences to Navid Afkari’s family and friends,” a statement said. “The Iranian Government took the life of an innocent human, an athlete and a wrestler.”
“Our thoughts are also with Navid’s two brothers who are still incarcerated in inhumane conditions.
The statement added: “We call on athlete solidarity to demand that the IOC and UWW immediately implement sanctions that expel Iran from world sport for this heinous execution.”
“The actions of the Iranian Government are a clear breach of human rights; such acts cannot go unpunished,” the group furthered. “For executing an athlete, this government no longer deserves the privilege of competing in international sport.”
Other athlete representation groups, including the World Players Association (WPA), urged the IOC to use its influence on the issue.
“The shocking injustice of Navid’s case sparked a global outpouring of support by courageous champions of human rights in sport—but tragically the Iranian regime still took his life,” WPA Executive Director Brendan Schwab said.
“Navid was targeted because of his success and popularity as an athlete, and this brutality was held up as an example to terrorize the public and silence dissent,” he said. “We must now unite in his memory to ensure that others do not suffer this fate.”
World Olympians Association (WOA) President Joël Bouzou expressed “profound shock and sadness,” adding “WOA stood with the IOC and President Thomas Bach in their appeals for mercy and are gravely upset that their combined efforts were not successful.”
Bobby Green, a lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, cut short a post-fight interview after learning of Afkari’s execution, saying it “broke his heart.” Insidethegames