Activists say the death penalty against those arrested during anti-government protests has risen sharply, with the execution of a wrestler that has garnered international attention, leading to an increase in the use of the death penalty. What's the point of ignoring the screams?
Naveed Afkari, a 27-year-old wrestler who
won national competitions, was hanged’ in the Adilabad jail in the southern
city of Shiraz on Saturday, causing a stir in the city two years ago.
US President Donald Trump has called on
Iran to save the lives of Africans, while international rights groups have
called for allegations that he was tortured in recognition of the need for an
investigation. And there is no evidence of their guilt.
Using a technique that has been repeatedly
condemned abroad, the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB presented a confession on
August 5 through Afkari, in which it allegedly appeared on the crime scene. Was
shown’ doing.
But activists are outraged that the
Iranian judiciary did not take into account the allegations - Afkari himself
claimed in a complaint that - he was tortured into confessing in ways that
involved beatings and drinking. Including
His execution has been hailed’ as the use
of the death penalty in Iran - which carries out more executions each year than
any other country except China - sparking a government crackdown on economic
hardship. The government is making a fuss after it has been’ done.
"It is extremely disturbing that the
authorities have used the death penalty against an athlete as a warning to
their population in an environment of growing social unrest," five UN
human rights experts said in a statement on Monday.
Tara Sepehri Far, an Iranian researcher
for Human Rights Watch, called the practice "unusual" and said the
African death penalty had been’ carried out.
He was sentenced’ to death in October 2019
and the verdict was upheld’ in the appellate court.
"At least some parts of the system
... feel that they are backing away from responding to the international outcry
and that could make them even weaker," he told AFP.
"There is also a growing movement in
the country against executions in connection with protests. I think they fear
that if they do not show strength, they will look weak."
- 'Responsible hold'.
The judiciary in July halted the
executions of three young men who took part in anti-government protests in
November 2019, during a furious social media campaign under the hashtag both
inside and outside Iran, #Don't_Execute (#Edam_Nakon in Persian).
But in August, Iran proceeded with the
execution of Mustafa Salehi, convicted of shooting a member of the security
forces during the 2017-18 protests in the Isfahan region.
Mansour Mills, an Iranian researcher for
Amnesty International, argued that "the general mood among Iranians is
shifting away from the death penalty" while the government was
"looking at the use of the death penalty against Iranian opponents". ۔
"Iranian authorities, like Naveed
Afkari, are using executions through political control and coercion to
intimidate the people."
Activists say Iran not only ignored
allegations of violence but also proceeded with the execution without allowing
the families of the victims to make peace.
"The authorities feared that waiting
another week would make the political costs of his execution unbearable,"
said Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam, founder of the Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights
(IHR).
He said the "possible
explanation" was that Africa was in such a bad state due to the violence
that it was decided’ to hang him to avoid further embarrassment. Amiry
Moghaddam said he was also buried’ in a hurry at night.
UN experts say Afkari's family was heading
to Shiraz in hopes of reconciliation with the victims' families, which could
overturn the death penalty under Iranian Sharia law.
He added that these elements "suggest
that there was an attempt by the authorities to expedite his execution."
The judiciary in the Persian province of Shiraz Fars said in a statement, citing the Meezan News website, that all appropriate
legal measures had been taken’ denying that Shiraz's Fars had been tortured and
that the case had been published. The "fake content" that took place
was’ criticized.
- 'Execution of innocent people' -
Reporting the African execution, Iranian
state media said the dead man was Hassan Turkeman, an employee of the Municipal
Water Company.
However, the activists noted that after
his death, Meezan had declared him a member of the security forces, which
contained pictures showing a well-attended funeral.
The wanted confession, broadcast by IRIB,
showed Afkari explaining the incident and then showing how the Turkmen were
stabbed in the back by a passenger.
According to a document posted by the
Human Rights Activists News Agency, Afkari had lodged a complaint with the
judiciary on September 13, 2019, alleging that he had been’ forced to make
false confessions under torture.
"I have all kinds of documents to
prove my innocence," said an audio recording attributed to the idea by
supporters who went viral after his execution.
"If I am executed, people should know
that in the 21st century, Iran still executes innocent people."
READ MORE
