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HomeNEWSIRAN NEWSGlobal initiative against Iran’s regime to save Navid Afkari and his brothers

Global initiative against Iran’s regime to save Navid Afkari and his brothers

Reporting by PMOI/MEK

Iran, September 2, 2020—There is a wave of protests and criticism from inside Iran and across the globe over the criminal execution ruling issued for Navid Afkari and his two brothers, Vahid and Habib, by the so-called judiciary in the city of Shiraz, south-central Iran. The three have been sentenced to double execution, long prison terms and lashing for taking part in the August 2018 uprising in the cities of Kazerun and Shiraz.

Navid, a 27-year old wrestling champion, is sentenced to double execution. Vahid Afkari is facing 54 years behind bars and 74 lashes. Habib Afkari is sentenced to 27 years in prison and 74 lashes. Navid Afkari’s death sentence has been upheld by the regime’s Supreme Court and an appeals measure has been denied.

Under extreme pressure, regime authorities are now claiming security camera footage shows Navid Afkari murdering a member of the mullahs’ security forces. Afkari’s lawyer, however, tweeted he has seen the footage, and in no way does it prove his client is guilty of such a crime. Legal experts are also describing the video footage as lacking any credibility.

To pave the ground for Navid’s execution, the Mizan news agency—associated with the Iranian regime’s judiciary—published a report claiming to show the murder scene. In line with this initiative, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi tweeted in Persian, “Justice will be implemented with strength.” It is worth noting that Raisi is best known for his leading role in the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, consisting mostly of members and supporters of the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), called for urgent national and international to stop Navid Afkari’s execution. Madam Rajavi is also encouraging locals and youths of Fars province, and especially the city of Kazerun, to hold protest these criminal and illegal sentencings against the Afkari brothers.

“The vicious tortures inflicted on #NavidAfkari and his brothers are outrageous. I call on everyone to rise in support of Afkari brothers and convey their voice throughout #Iran and the world. #SaveNavidAfkari,” Madam Rajavi tweeted. “I urge the UN Security Council, UN Secretary General, UN High Commissioner for #HumanRights, and the EU to condemn the vicious tortures inflicted on Afkari brothers in #Iran and take urgent action to secure their immediate release. Maintaining silence about torture and crime against humanity would amount to the trampling of the values that tens of millions of people have given their lives for. #StopExecutionsInIran.”

 

 

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Navid Afkari described the horrific physical and psychological tortures inflicted on him by the regime’s authorities.

“For around 50 days I had to endure the most horrendous physical and psychological tortures. They would beat me with sticks and batons, hitting my arms, legs, abdomen and back. They would place a plastic bag on my head and torture me until I suffocated to the very brink of death. They also poured alcohol into my nose,” the letter reads.

Navid Afkari’s letter describing the horrific physical and psychological torture he went through and authorities demanding he confess to crimes he had not commit—September 13, 2019 (page 1)

Navid Afkari’s letter describing the horrific physical and psychological torture he went through and authorities demanding he confess to crimes he had not commit—September 13, 2019 (page 1)

 

Navid Afkari’s letter describing the horrific physical and psychological torture he went through and authorities demanding he confess to crimes he had not commit—September 13, 2019 (page 2)

Navid Afkari’s letter describing the horrific physical and psychological torture he went through and authorities demanding he confess to crimes he had not commit—September 13, 2019 (page 2)

The U.S. State Department posted two tweets condemning the death sentence issued for this young Iranian athlete by the so-called judiciary of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“Navid Afkari is a young man that is struggling for the pride that Khamenei’s regime has long deprived the Iranian people of. Khamenei’s thugs have tortured Navid to such an extent in order to obtain coerced confessions from him. Not satisfied with their effort in destroying Navid’s dignity, now they have sentenced him to death,” the tweet reads in Persian.

 

 

Bahie Namju, the mother of Navid Afkari, described the two death sentences issued for her son as unjust and called for help from people across the globe to save her son’s life. The mullahs have sentenced her sons to death, long prison terms and lashing for merely protesting for a better life.

“Authorities raided our house at 5 am without a warrant and arrested two of my sons, Vahid and Navid, in August 2018. Later they arrested my husband and son-in-law. Three months later they arrested Habib,” she said in a video circulating online. “Habib had just married three months before. They physically and psychologically tortured Vahid to such an extent that he attempted suicide three times. God saved him and returned him to us. Later we learned that Vahid was tortured to so he would confess against his brother, Navid. They held an unjust court hearing full of lies. My sons were not able to defend themselves at all. They raised many allegations against them. They held just one court hearing without any evidence and issued a ruling. I can’t even mention Navid’s ruling [execution] and 25 years in prison for Vahid. I’m asking for help from people across the globe, everyone in Iran, anyone can hear my voice so that my sons can be proven innocent in a fair court. I’m desperately asking for help from anyone who can hear my voice for the unjust ruling against my sons,” she said before breaking into tears.

 

 

The Iranian regime executes political prisoners and protesters to intimidate would be protesters and prevent future protests.  

On August 5, the Iranian regime hanged a political prisoner in central Iran. Mostafa Salehi was detained during protests in Isfahan two years ago. 

Three other protesters in Tehran and five protesters in Isfahan have also been sentenced to death.

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