Mohammad Aryankhou, former head coach of Iran's national karate team, summoned to Evin Prosecutor's Office

Mohammad Aryankhou, former head coach and manager of Iran's national karate team and critic of the execution of protesting athletes, has reported being summoned to the Evin Prosecutor's Office following a recent interrogation. In a voice message released by the 'Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners,' this former sports official explains that he had previously visited on July 22 to answer the interrogator's questions and is scheduled to return on Saturday, August 5, with his lawyer, Amir Koohkan, based on a new summons. In his voice message, Mohammad Aryankhou emphasizes his steadfastness in his positions, stating, 'I always believe in the issues I have raised.' According to the summons from Branch 1 of the Evin Prosecutor's Office, published on the website of the 'Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners,' the reason for Aryankhou's summons is cited as 'the clarification of the charges mentioned in the case,' but no specifics regarding the charges have been mentioned. During last year's widespread protests, Aryankhou notably defended protesting athletes who faced execution and harshly criticized the actions of the Islamic Republic officials and the judiciary against them. This veteran athlete expressed solidarity with the family of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, a karate champion executed during the protests, emphasizing the innocence of the 22-year-old. He also strongly criticized the issuance of a death sentence for Saleh Mirhashimi, a karateka accused in the 'Isfahan House' case, and the lack of access to a chosen lawyer, deeming the silence of the Ministry of Sports and the Iranian Karate Federation, especially the Isfahan Karate Federation, as shameful. Following the support of several artists and athletes for the protesters last year, the Islamic Republic officials have attempted to confront well-known supporters of the protesters through judicial rulings in recent months. The ongoing exodus of athletes continues; Sara Khadem al-Shariah, an Iranian chess master, has become a Spanish citizen. Mohammad Dadkan's renewed remarks: 'They wanted us to become an Islamic Japan, we have become an Islamic North Korea.' Exclusive: The mother of Vahid Shiazeh has stated that her son was killed by 'gunfire from agents' not 'in an accident.' The wave of athlete migration is intensifying; a national taekwondo athlete has sought asylum, and two Olympic skiers have emigrated.