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In excess of twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and further international athletes have put their names to a letter demanding a stop to the execution of a boxing champion and trainer, who is on death row in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

During increasing global condemnation over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the government's verdict to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and confined in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to inspire optimism, togetherness, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these values and a warning to every athlete who ventures to express dissent.

Record of Killing Sports Figures

The appeal pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and emphasized the country's past of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, for example a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Further supporters to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who skippered the inaugural all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the previous captain of the Australian football team an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and destruction of government belongings”. His verdict has been reversed on two occasions but on October 4 it was maintained on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Call to United Nations

The urging to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution follows a earlier appeal to the United Nations official for rights, endorsed by more than 100 rights specialists and groups, urging measures to prevent the sports figure's death.

Execution Crisis

As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved alarming levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the highest number since the year 2015. In excess of 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are targets, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Experts say the Iranian authorities have used the death penalty to suppress dissent, create apprehension among the public and strengthen their hold on rule.