US President Donald Trump urges Iran not to execute popular wrestler Navid Afkari

US President Donald Trump has urged Iran not to execute a popular wrestler who authorities say killed a man during 2018 anti-government rallies.

 

Citing reports on the death sentence for 27-year-old Navid Afkari, President Trump said in a tweet on Thursday  “... To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you would spare this young man's life, and not execute him. Thank you!”

 

Judiciary authorities in Iran say Afkari was sentenced to death for the



death of Hassan Torkaman, a water supply company employee in the southern city of Shiraz, following an anti-government protest over economic problems.

 

A provincial court in Shiraz sentenced Afkari to death and his brothers Vahid Afkari and Habib Afkari to 54 and 27 years in prison, respectively. All three were construction workers.

 

The July verdicts that were reported in August prompted an outcry both in Iran and internationally.