President Trump on Thursday called on Iranian leaders to save the life of 27-year-old Iranian champion wrestler Naveed Afkari, who was sentenced’ to death for participating in a 2018 protest against the Islamic Republic's economic policies.
Describing the African as "a very
famous wrestling star", Trump took a third of the scholars to the theater
to prevent the execution of the rulers.
Trump tweeted, "Hearing that Iran is
seeking to execute a great and popular wrestling star, 27-year-old Naveed
Afkarai, whose only job was to take to the streets to protest against the
government," Trump tweeted. "For the leaders of Iran, I appreciate
that if you save this young man's life and do not hang him."
Last week, it was reported’ that courts in
the Iranian city of Shiraz had sentenced Afkari to two deaths, six years and
six months in prison and 74 lashes. One death sentence was imposed by a
criminal court and another by a "revolutionary court".
Afridi's brother Waheed was sentenced’ to
54 years and six months in prison and 74 lashes. A third brother, Habib, was
flogged’ for 27 years, three months and 74 years.
In a video reviewed by Fox News, the
brothers' mother condemned the embarrassing lawsuit against her sons.
"I desperately ask for help from
anyone who can hear my voice," he said.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency has
published a photo of a letter from Naveed Afkari in which he said that he was
tortured by the Iranian authorities in order to force him to confess to the
charges against him. As part of the violence, he said, his head was covered’
with a plastic bag and alcohol was poured into his nostrils.
Naveed Afkari, who also works as a plaster
player, has won several wrestling medals at the Iranian tournament. Wrestling
is a popular sport in Iran, and Iranian athletes have distinguished themselves
in international freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions.
His sentencing has sparked outcry from
human rights activists, former US officials, Iranian-Americans and a decorated
American wrestler.
A day after Trump's tweets about the
wrestler, his former acting director of national intelligence, Richard Grenell,
called on the organizers of next summer's Olympics in Tokyo to intervene.
"The Tokyo Olympics organizers should
inquire into this athlete's case," Greelen wrote in The Jerusalem Post on
Wednesday.
Former star mixed martial artist and
Olympic wrestler Ben Screen tweeted about Iran's punishment for ideas.
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