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In excess of twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and additional world-class competitors have signed a statement demanding a stop to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

Amidst rising international outrage over the nation's increasing application of executions as a tool of suppression, the forcefully phrased appeal censures the Iranian regime's ruling to uphold the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for being involved in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of backing an opposition group. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been tortured and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is meant to encourage faith, solidarity, and fortitude,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Killing Sports Figures

The letter pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and emphasized the nation's record of executing athletes for their convictions, for example a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian competitor, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the statement comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous leader of the soccer side an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The boxer was detained in March 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and damage of public property”. His verdict has been reversed on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was condemned as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups.

Urging to UN

The urging to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a previous statement to the United Nations official for rights, endorsed by more than a hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding intervention to prevent the sports figure's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on reports, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved alarming proportions”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half surge on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand deaths, marking the highest number since two thousand fifteen. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the government have employed the capital punishment to stifle opposition, generate fear among the citizenry and tighten their hold on rule.