Human rights groups have expressed concern that the Islamic republic may immediately execute decorated wrestler Navid Afkari after the authorities placed him in solitary confinement. Afkari faces two death sentences for killing a water company security guard during anti-government protests in 2018.
The case has caused an outcry from Iranians and human rights groups worldwide. US President Donald Trump, as well as the German government, have called on Iran not to execute the 27-year-old Afkari.
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The International Federation for Human Rights and London-based Justice for Iran said in a report in June that Iranian state media often airs forced confessions by prisoners awaiting execution for various crimes. Some 355 such confessions have been aired over the past decade. Iranian officials reject such accusations.
