Last September Iran followed through with its threat to execute Iranian national team wrestler Navid Afkari after he was charged with murdering a security agent. Human rights groups claim that the charges against Afkari were the result of a forced confession, brought about through torture.
Figures from the international wrestling community, as well as UFC President Dana White, spoke out against Iran in an attempt to pressure the country to stay Afkari’s execution. Despite these calls, Iran carried out the execution by hanging, per an official release. Afkari was 27-years-old. Activists in Iran dispute that Afkari was hanged, due to the beaten and bloodied condition of his body.