{"id":1852,"date":"2020-09-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/testsystem.meisel-webdesign.de\/athleten\/2020\/09\/15\/execution-of-navid-afkari-athleten-deutschland-calls-for-far-reaching-consequences\/"},"modified":"2022-02-11T14:13:56","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T13:13:56","slug":"execution-of-navid-afkari-athleten-deutschland-calls-for-far-reaching-consequences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testsystem.meisel-webdesign.de\/athleten-sandbox\/en\/execution-of-navid-afkari-athleten-deutschland-calls-for-far-reaching-consequences\/","title":{"rendered":"Execution of Navid Afkari: Athleten Deutschland Calls for Far-Reaching Consequences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Berlin,\u00a0September\u00a015,\u00a02020.<\/strong>\u00a0The killing of\u00a0Navid\u00a0Afkari\u00a0by the Iranian regime is a terrible act against humanity and an intolerable violation of the human rights of an athlete. This act cannot remain without consequences for Iran. Its government instrumentalizes sports\u00a0for its purposes and has made an example of\u00a0Navid\u00a0Afkari, a protesting athlete. Iran is not the only country in international sports\u00a0that disregards human rights, but with the killing of the 27-year-old wrestler\u00a0Navid\u00a0Afkari\u00a0it has crossed a line.<\/p>\n

His execution is the appalling culmination of repeated attacks on the values that form the foundation of the international sports community.\u00a0The\u00a0actions\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Iranian\u00a0regime\u00a0are\u00a0fundamentally\u00a0irreconcilable\u00a0with\u00a0Iran’s\u00a0continued\u00a0membership\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0group.<\/p>\n

Maximilian Klein,\u00a0Representative for International Sports Policy at\u00a0Athleten\u00a0Deutschland:\u00a0“The International Olympic Committee and the\u00a0<\/em>International Sports Federations<\/em>\u00a0must exclude the Iranian regime from the international sports system with immediate effect. The inaction of the IOC is unacceptable. Iranian athletes should continue to be allowed to compete under a neutral flag and should be protected. Sanctions must be directed against the regime and the political leadership<\/em>. The<\/em>\u00a0Iranian Olympic Committee must also be suspended by the IOC.<\/em>“<\/em><\/p>\n

Considering the events, the rules of the Olympic Charta provide sufficient grounds\u00a0to justify the\u00a0expulsion of the Iranian\u00a0NOC.\u00a0Expelling\u00a0a\u00a0NOC\u00a0has happened before and would not set a precedent.<\/p>\n

Other mandatory sanctions include the suspension of Iranian federations by the\u00a0respective\u00a0international\u00a0federations\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0ban of\u00a0hosting any international sporting events in Iran. The Iranian regime and its representatives must not be allowed to\u00a0gain\u00a0positive\u00a0public attention from international sports. The sponsors of the Olympic\u00a0Movement must clearly distance themselves from the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0elevated\u00a0position\u00a0of sport can make such atrocities, which are inflicted on countless people every day, visible worldwide. Sport and\u00a0the\u00a0athletes can be an important force to bring attention to such grave injustices and bring about social change. It is therefore imperative that\u00a0the sporting\u00a0system\u00a0itself is based on human rights and that it protects those people who are in its sphere of influence.<\/p>\n

At the intersection between human rights and sports, sanctions can only be one\u00a0aspect.\u00a0Athleten\u00a0Deutschland\u00a0proposes further\u00a0minimum\u00a0measures:<\/p>\n