Brother of Iranian kickboxer sentenced to death begs Trump for intervention: ‘Save his life’

SHIRAZ, IRAN: The family of Iranian kickboxer Benyamin Naghdi is making a desperate final appeal to President Donald Trump as they fear the 26-year-old's execution could be close.

Naghdi, a former member of Iran's national kickboxing team, was sentenced to death in May over allegations that he used a makeshift flamethrower to defend himself against security forces during an anti-regime protest in January. Iran's Supreme Court upheld the sentence on July 30.

His family has not been given an execution date, but his brother Arash Naghdi fears they may be running out of time.

Arash Naghdi makes desperate plea to Donald Trump

Arash, 37, is now asking Trump to intervene during negotiations with Iran and pressure the country's leadership to halt the execution.

“Please help us, do everything you can to save my brother,” Arash said during an interview from Shiraz. He described Benyamin as a young man with his whole life ahead of him.

“He’s only 26 years old; he has his whole life ahead of him; he deserves the chance to live, to dream, to build a future,” Arash said.

Despite receiving threatening calls from unknown numbers and fearing that he could be arrested himself, Arash said he feels compelled to speak publicly.

“My plea is simple and heartfelt: please help my brother, please save his life.”

Benyamin Naghdi’s prison ordeal raises fears

Arash said he has not been allowed to visit Benyamin in prison, while their parents were permitted a “final goodbye” about two months ago.

He said his father described Benyamin as an emaciated version of the athlete he once was. Arash also believes his brother was tortured and said Benyamin had lost hope.

“He called our cousin and threatened to harm himself in an attempt to delay his execution,” Arash said.

Benyamin spent months in solitary confinement before being moved to the general prison population less than a month ago following a 10-day hunger strike.

His mental state reportedly worsened after two protesters were publicly executed in Isfahan in late July, with footage of the executions broadcast inside the prison.

Arash insists his brother was trying to protect himself and other protesters when security forces chased him on motorcycles.

“He acted in self defense,” he said.

Iranian athlete’s life changed by family struggles

Benyamin was not always involved in politics, according to his brother.

The champion kickboxer had put his sporting ambitions aside after their father's health deteriorated because of chemical weapons exposure from the Iran-Iraq War.

He worked several jobs, including as a mechanic, carpenter, fruit vendor and tour guide, to support his parents and teenage sister.

Arash said worsening economic conditions also pushed his brother toward the protests.

“He went because of the hardships he was living through, the feeling that he had no future, he couldn’t make ends meet or provide money for his family,” he said.

With Benyamin imprisoned, Arash has taken over as the family's breadwinner, driving a truck day and night while their parents continue searching for ways to save their son.

He said his father spends his days moving between courthouses and police stations, borrowing money as the family tries to fight the death sentence.

His mother, meanwhile, is struggling to cope with the possibility of losing her son.

“In Iran we have a saying, ‘One eye is full of tears, the other is full of blood’ - this is our mother,” Arash said.