D. White mourns the death of an Iranian athlete. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube UFC
September 12th was marked by an event that shook the world of martial arts. Iranian Navid Afkari, a wrestler, was executed for being accused of forming an attack group against the Iranian government and for protesting against the regime.
See too
The matter was addressed at the post-UFC Las Vegas 10, in the USA, held on the same day, and the situation affected those who participated in the event. Bobby Green regretted what happened and Dana White, president of the organization, reported that he contacted Donald Trump, president of the United States, in an attempt for him to use the power he has to intercede for the Iranian's life.
“I called Trump and told him what was happening. The first thing he told me was that there were already sanctions against them and there wasn't much recourse. He tried to help and started talking to his people. Obviously, the world saw the tweet that Trump posted and I know he acted behind the scenes to stop it. There was a lot of publicity. I know people at the New York Times, FOX, in the Middle East and across Europe who have written about this. Other powerful people also tried to help. At no point during this process did it seem like anything good was going to happen,” Dana said.
The UFC leader continued to comment on the episode and praised Afkari's stance, who remained faithful to what he believed until the end, even though he knew that the consequences of his actions could be serious.
“Afkari knew he was not allowed to protest, but he acted anyway. It was something similar to the current protests around the world. When you believe strongly in something, you see it through to the end. You try to stay upright. He did this even though he knew the penalty could be death. He was a great athlete, a champion and I'm sure he was strong mentally and physically. He fought for what he believed in and it cost him his life.”
Despite appeals and global commotion, Navid Afkari, 27, arrested with his two brothers in August 2018, was sentenced to death by hanging in the city of Shiraz on September 12. The fighter's defense claims that he, along with his brothers, was tortured during his time in prison.
N. Afkari was sentenced to death for protesting against the Iranian government. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Comments
10 responses to “Dana White reveals that he asked Donald Trump for help to prevent the execution of an Iranian fighter”
Leave a comment
You need to login to post a comment.
It is regrettable that in the 21st century we have such authoritarian and dictatorial regimes, to the point of taking the life of a human being simply because he protested against this oppressive regime.
It's a shame that these people, who supposedly act in the name of God, don't care that they will burn in the fires of hell.
Unfortunately, there are people who come into the world just to bother, destroy, deceive and bring misfortune and destruction!! For these, just a bullet to the head to solve it!!!
No one will clap for murder in the comments... These 'good Christians'...
This is what Bolsonaro wants for Brazil!
Do you have any idea what nonsense you wrote!?? It will inform you, instruct you, before paying insults on social media!!!!
This is an ACT-5:
Anyone who studies Geopolitics and has a minimum of historical knowledge knows that only in communist, Marxist, Leninist, socialist, and religious extremism dictatorial regimes do we see this type of situation, because with them there is no contradiction, no matter what the others (the majority) think, and as they do not have valid and solid arguments in a discussion, they act authoritarianly, using all the resources they have, namely: bribery, bribery, collusion, fake news, personal accusations, lies, defamation, and if it doesn't work out, they start violent protests, brutality, intimidation and finally, assassination attempts, terrorist attacks, in short, there is no peace as long as any of them are standing... sad!? But this is REALITY!!!!
Wait… Do you defend the death of those who are against your ideology, but accuse others of being radicals?
Extremist governments ON BOTH SIDES across the political spectrum have long and recent histories of authoritarianism (Do I need to remember the journalist killed by the Saudi Arabian government?)
So, if you want to shit the rules, make a decent shit.
The report is distorting the facts, he was sentenced to death for murder. He killed a man during the protests with 9, I say 9 stab wounds. This journalist apparently doesn't know. Nowhere on earth is anyone sentenced to death for protests. Let's be sensible and be better informed. There the laws are severe for those who take a life, pay with their own. The defense claims that he was tortured to admit the crime. I believe that this case should be further investigated.
What all local press outlets say is that he was convicted WITHOUT PROOF and with a witness who was 9km away from the scene of the murder.
The government claims it had a confession, but that it was obtained through torture.