Summary
Navid Afkari (1993–2020) was an Iranian wrestler from Shiraz, hanged in secret at Adel Abad Prison on 12 September 2020 in connection with the killing of a Revolutionary Guards intelligence officer during the 2018 anti-government protests. Afkari’s confession was obtained under torture, as documented in audio recordings smuggled out of prison and verified by Amnesty International. The International Olympic Committee, the U.N. Special Rapporteur, the European Parliament, and 85,000 athletes signed letters demanding clemency; his execution went ahead without notification to his family or lawyers.
Career
Born in Shiraz in 1993, Navid Afkari was a Greco-Roman wrestler in Iran’s national youth program and the brother of two other national-level wrestlers, Vahid and Habib. He was widely known in his sport but was not an Olympic-level competitor.
2018 protests and arrest
Afkari and his brothers participated in the August 2018 anti-government protests in Shiraz over water shortages, currency collapse and corruption. On 17 September 2018 he was arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of Hassan Turkman, a Revolutionary Guards intelligence officer, during the protests. Audio recordings smuggled out of Adel Abad Prison — verified by Amnesty International, the Center for Human Rights in Iran, and the BBC — recorded Afkari describing how he had been hung from his feet, beaten, suffocated with a plastic bag, and given alcohol to drink until he "confessed" to the killing. Iranian state TV broadcast the confession days later, as is standard practice.
Trial and global appeals
After a closed trial in Shiraz, Afkari was sentenced to two consecutive death sentences plus 74 lashes plus 54 years in prison. The IOC and EOC publicly intervened; the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, the EU and Canada lodged formal protests; the U.N. Special Rapporteur called the trial a sham; over 85,000 athletes and Olympians signed an open letter demanding clemency; President Trump tweeted asking Tehran to spare his life.
Execution and aftermath
On 12 September 2020, before dawn, Afkari was hanged at Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz. His family and lawyers were not notified. His brothers Vahid and Habib remain in prison under long sentences. Iran’s judiciary banned the family from holding a public funeral; mourners were attacked at his grave in Sangar village. The case is cited as a defining example of judicial murder in the U.N. Fact-Finding Mission’s 2024 report on Iran.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Navid Afkari?
An Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler from Shiraz, hanged in secret on 12 September 2020 at Adel Abad Prison.
Why was Navid Afkari executed?
He was convicted of stabbing a Revolutionary Guards intelligence officer during the August 2018 protests in Shiraz. His confession was obtained under torture, as documented in audio smuggled from prison and verified by Amnesty International.
Did the International Olympic Committee try to save him?
Yes. The IOC publicly intervened, joined by the European Olympic Committee, dozens of governments, the U.N. Special Rapporteur, and over 85,000 athletes worldwide. Iran proceeded with the execution anyway.
What happened to his brothers?
His brothers Vahid and Habib remain imprisoned at Adel Abad on long sentences for the same alleged events. Both also reported torture.
Was the family allowed a public funeral?
No. Iran’s judiciary banned a public funeral and mourners were attacked at his graveside in Sangar.
Sources
- Amnesty International — Iran: Navid Afkari urgent action (2020)
- U.N. Fact-Finding Mission on Iran (A/HRC/55/67, 2024)
- International Olympic Committee — statement on Navid Afkari
This biography is published under CC BY 4.0. Cross-references to /data/entities.json and /llms.txt for machine readers.