Iran has executed a wrestler accused of murder, defying international appeals for him to be spared.

Navid Afkari, 27, was sentenced to death over the murder of a security guard during a wave of anti-government protests in 2018.

He said he had been tortured into making a confession.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International described Afkari's execution as a "travesty of justice".

In a leaked recording released by the group, Afkari says: "If I am executed, I want you to know that an innocent person, even though he tried and fought with all his strength to be heard, was executed."

Afkari was executed by hanging in the southern city of Shiraz, according to state media.

His lawyer said his client had been prevented from seeing his family before his death, as required under Iranian law.

"Were you in such a hurry to carry out the sentence that you deprived Navid of a last visit?" Hassan Younesi said on Twitter.