Iran has executed a wrestler accused of murder, defying international appeals for the government to have his life spared. Navid Afkari, 27, was sentenced to death over the murder of a security guard during a wave of anti-regime protests in 2018.
The wrestler, however, denied those allegations and said he had been tortured into making a confession.
Wrestler Afkari's Trial
Human rights organisation Amnesty International described Afkari's execution as a "travesty of justice".
In a leaked recording released by the group, Afkari says: "If I am executed, I want you to know that an innocent person, even though he tried and fought with all his strength to be heard, was executed."
Afkari was hanged in the southern city of Shiraz, according to Iranian state media. His lawyer said his client had been prevented from seeing his family before his execution, as required under Iranian law.
"Were you in such a hurry to carry out the sentence that you deprived Navid of a last visit?" Hassan Younesi said on Twitter.
There had been many calls to stop the execution, including from a union representing 85,000 athletes worldwide including UFC President Dana White.
The World Players Association said he had been "unjustly targeted" for taking part in the protests, and called for Iran's expulsion from world sport if it went ahead with the execution.
US President Donald Trump also appealed for mercy, saying the wrestler's "sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets".
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) called his execution "very sad news" and said their thoughts were with his family and friends.
"It is deeply upsetting that the pleas of athletes from around the world and all the behind-the-scenes work of the IOC... did not achieve our goal," their statement said.
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