Habib Afkari, Former Political Prisoner: The Noble People of Iran Will Not Bow to Oppression

Habib Afkari, a former political prisoner, has described the Iranian government as 'doomed to failure' and added, 'these noble people will not bow to oppression.' In a note published on Thursday, September 7, on X (formerly Twitter), he referred to the solitary confinement of his brother, Vahid Afkari, over the past three years as 'resistance against oppression' and deemed it a precursor to a 'better future' for Iran. Habib Afkari also reflected on his experience of 550 days in solitary confinement, stating that he lived each moment with the scene of his brother Navid's execution. He was released from prison last March. Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old wrestler, was arrested on charges of murder during the protests of August 2017 and was executed on September 13, 2020, despite numerous ambiguities in his case. In part of his note, Habib Afkari described the 'pleasure of resisting oppression' as 'deep' and quoted his imprisoned brother Vahid, stating that if 'they say freedom, but your freedom is not for the benefit of the people of Iran, I will never leave solitary confinement.' Habib Afkari praised his two brothers and described Navid's death and Vahid's presence in solitary confinement as 'with pride.' Recently, the Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department expressed concern over Vahid Afkari's continued solitary confinement and urged the Iranian government to release him and other imprisoned youths as soon as possible. Vedant Patel criticized Vahid Afkari's sentence of 33 years in prison and 74 lashes as an 'unjust ruling' during a press conference earlier this year. Security forces arrested three members of this family, including Habib Afkari, last year coinciding with the second anniversary of Navid Afkari's execution. Vahid Afkari has been in solitary confinement for 870 days; Saeed Afkari stated that they did not speak out so that the voice of the people could be heard. A five-year prison sentence was handed down to Elham Afkari; Saeed Afkari called it a ruling devoid of 'honor and justice.' On the second anniversary of the execution of the protesting wrestler, three members of Navid Afkari's family were arrested. Saeed Afkari reported that prison officials broke his brother's hand and shot at the family.