Breathing in Confinement

Navid Afkari; TV broadcasting of forced confessions and transfer to an unknown location in Shiraz prison

7-September-2020

Category: Prisoners

Breathing in Confinement: Navid Afkari, a political prisoner in Shiraz Prison, sentenced to death twice, has been transferred to an unknown location on Thursday, September 3, 2020 by the prison guards, and his communication with the outside world has been cut. Two of his brothers also, who were trying to defend Navid and to prevent his sudden transfer, were beaten and transferred to the Ershad (guidance) Unit at Shiraz Prison.

 

According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, despite widespread protests against the death sentence for this wrestler from the City of Shiraz, and in spite of the call from thousands of personalities and human rights activists from all over the world, including prominent international athletes, the authorities of the Islamic Republic continue to put pressure on this political prisoner.

 

Last night, Saturday, September 5, 2020, the state television broadcast the forced confessions of Navid Afkari and his brother Vahid Afkari. The confessions that Navid Afkari, in a letter he recently wrote, called as a confession under torture.

 

Mr. Hassan Younesi, the lawyer of the Afkari brothers, while confirming the news of the transfer of these three political prisoners to other wards, tweeted that the Afkari family is unaware of the situation of their children.

 

This sudden transfer has raised concerns over life threats to Navid Afkari’s.