Navid Afkari Sangari

Navid Afkari (July 22, 1993 – September 12, 2020) was an Iranian wrestler and pro-democracy activist. Born in Shiraz, Iran, he was a promising athlete in Greco-Roman wrestling, earning national recognition by ranking 2nd in the youth category in 2008 and 8th in 2016 in the adult category.

Afkari became involved in the 2018 Iranian protests against the government's economic policies, particularly the rise in gasoline prices. During the protests, a security guard, Hasan Turkman, was killed, and Afkari was accused of the murder, despite lacking clear evidence and recanting testimony from witnesses who had initially testified against him under pressure.

In 2019, he was sentenced to death, and he maintained his innocence, claiming his confession had been obtained under torture. His case drew international attention, with calls for his release from human rights organizations and figures like Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee.

On September 12, 2020, despite global outcry, Afkari was executed by hanging in Shiraz. His death highlighted the Iranian government's repression of political dissent and sparked further calls for justice. His execution galvanized international attention to Iran's human rights abuses, and his legacy endures as a symbol of resistance to authoritarian rule. His family, particularly his mother Azadeh Afkari, continues to advocate for justice and the rights of political prisoners.