Help us save Iranian political prisoners Vahid and Habib Afkari
Vahid and Habib Afkari are two brothers who were arrested along with their brother Navid Afkari for participating in the demonstrations against the regime in 2018 in the city of Shiraz in Iran. The Islamic regime in Iran sentenced Vahid to 25 years and Habib to 27 years and three months in prison, as well as to 74 lashes each. Both brothers have been sentenced on fabricated charges, subjected to torture and placed in solitary confinement.
Before the arrest, Vahid Afkari, 36, was working as a plasterer and Habib Afkari, 30, was working as a welder. Vahid and Habib are the brothers of Iranian wrestling champion, Navid Afkari, who was also arrested in the anti-government demonstrations in 2018. Navid was tortured and then executed in September 2020. Navid’s execution raised an international outrage by the international community including by leading sporting organisations such as Global Athlete and World Players Association.
Following the execution of Navid Afkari, Vahid and Habib have been subjected to further pressure and torture and have even been threatened to be executed. According to reports, one month after the execution of Navid Afkari, the agents of the regime’s Intelligence Ministry visited Vahid in prison and told him that he must accept the charges dictated by the Ministry or he too will be executed. Forced confession has been commonly used by the regime in prison. Their family was banned from holding a funeral for Navid or to place a headstone on his grave. Navid’s grave was vandalised by the regime’s security forces. When Navid’s father, brother, another relative and a labourer went to Sangar cemetery for laying a tombstone for Navid, a large number of police and plainclothes security forces arrested and detained them for several hours.
The Afkari family, including Vahid and Habib, have been subjected to immense pressure from the regime’s security forces. This is the regime’s attempt to silence them and stop them from speaking out about the torture and suffering they have been going through.
Vahid and his brother Habib are currently being held in horrendous conditions in Adelabad prison in the city of Shiraz and have been denied medical attention. Vahid Afkari has recently sent an audio message, recorded in prison, asking for help. The Afkari brothers are in danger. They need your support.
How you can help:
- SEND a message: (email directly or send via Tweet)
It will only take a few minutes of your time to send a message and demand:
The immediate and unconditional release of Vahid Afkari and Habib Afkari
In your tweet please use hashtag: #SaveAfkariBrothers
Send your message/tweet to:
Hassan Rouhani Email: media@rouhani.ir Twitter: @HassanRouhani
Ali Khamenei Email: info_leader@leader.ir Twitter: @khamenei_ir
Permanent Mission of the Islamic regime to the UN Email: iran@un.int
· WRITE to your government and urge them to pressure the regime in Iran to release Vahid & Navid Afkari immediately
· JOIN the day of protest in support of Afkari brothers on Saturday 22 May in cities around the world. Contact us to find out if there is a protest in your city
· INVITE us to your event to speak about the situation of Afkari brothers and ways to support them
About the Campaign in Support of Afkari brothers:
The Campaign in Support of Afkari brothers has been launched in May 2021 by the International Committee Against Executions (ICAE), the Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) and Free Them Now! (Campaign to free jailed workers in Iran). We aim to draw public attention to the situation of Vahid and Habib Afkari; to lobby and appeal to international human rights organisations, labour unions and concerned individuals; and to mobilise an international force to pressure the Islamic regime in Iran to release Vahid and Habib Afkari immediately and unconditionally.
For more information, please contact:
Campaign in Support of Afkari Brothers
0044 7572356661, shiva.mahbobi@gmail.com
0049 1775692413, minaahadi1956@gmail.com
0046 703171102, hasan.salehi2000@gmail.com