Iran’s government has distanced itself from the execution of wrestler Navid Afkari, who was executed over the weekend after being sentenced to death on charges of murder amid widespread criticism.
According to Iranian legal authorities, Afkari killed a security officer during a demonstration in Shiraz in 2018.
On Tuesday, Iran’s government spokesman Ali Rabiei said Afkari’s execution was ultimately a decision made by the family of the murder victim. The athlete’s execution took place on Saturday. (Aljazeera)