Athletes in Canada are joining an international social media campaign aimed at saving the life of an Iranian wrestling champion who is sentenced to be executed on Wednesday. On Twitter, Canadian Olympic wrestling champion Erica Wiebe posted a story about Afkari from an Iranian human rights website. Wiebe doesn't know him, but says in the international wrestling community there are only a few degrees of separation. "Wrestling is a truly global sport and I've been very fortunate to have many friends who were born in Iran or competed for Iran," Wiebe told CBC. Canadian Olympic weightlifting champion Christine Girard also joined the #SaveNavidAfkari campaign, retweeting a demand that Iran immediately grant him a reprieve.

Source: CBC News September 09, 2020 02:36 UTC