The Olympic Federation of Ireland Athletes’ Commission have added their voice to the call for clemency for Navid Afkari, the Iranian wrestler whose execution was scheduled for this week.
Sporting bodies, athletes’ representative groups, athletes’ commissions, and athletes from around the world are coming together to call for the halt to the execution of Afkari. As the Irish Athletes’ Commission, representing Irish Olympic athletes, we stand with the global community of athletes and offer our support for the call for clemency and for a halt on the planned execution of a fellow athlete. We invite our athlete community to support this call by sharing the hashtags #SaveNavidAfkari on social media.
Speaking on the current situation, the Chair of the OFI Athletes’ Commission, Shane O’Connor said, "It is important that as athletes we stand together in support of each other during times of need. Navid Afkari was sentenced to death for allegedly killing a security man in Shiraz, Fars Province, at the time of the summer 2018 protests in the province – it seems clear there is evidence supporting the fact he did not commit the crime and that he was tortured during interrogation into giving a ‘false confession’. The execution was scheduled for the 9 September, but we believe this did not happen and we are now calling for a halt on this planned execution and for transparency into the current situation of Navid. We also ask our government and the IOC to continue doing everything in their power to protect Navid"
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Últimas Noticias
Brigitte Henriques: “The important thing is that the women who are elected should be chosen for their ability, not because we are looking for modernization in terms of gender”
“When I was a girl I couldn’t find a club to play soccer in because most of them didn’t work with women,” Henriques tells Around the Rings during an in-depth interview in Crete, Greece.
The Hula Report: Winds of Change for ANOC in Crete
New leaders coming for peak Olympic group. Whether other candidates emerge in the months ahead, a contested election for the ANOC presidency will be a first for the organization.
Gilles Gilbert Gresenguet, presidential candidate for AFCNO: “We must take advantage of Paris 2024 to bring the Olympic Games back to French”
The elections take place November 18, and Abakar Djermah Aumi, president of the Chad Olympic Committee, is also aiming to win them.
USOPC announces 613-member 2020 U.S. Olympic Team
Roger Federer pulls out of Tokyo Olympics: "I am greatly disappointed"
(ATR) Federer cites "a setback with my knee" for the decision.
