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Over two dozen Olympic medallists, coaches and additional international athletes have put their names to a statement demanding a halt to the execution of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Increasing Global Anger

Amidst rising international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the strongly worded statement censures the government's verdict to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for participating in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has spent half a decade in detention, where he has been tortured and kept in isolation.

“Competition is meant to promote optimism, unity, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The execution of a champion for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who ventures to speak out.

Pattern of Executing Athletes

The letter pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and highlighted Iran’s past of sentencing to death competitors for their convictions, for example a national team leader, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Additional endorsers to the appeal consist of Tracy Edwards, who skippered the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The charges against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and organizations.

Call to United Nations

The call to prevent the athlete's execution follows a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for freedoms, signed by more than one hundred rights specialists and groups, calling for intervention to stop the competitor's death.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on data, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent increase on 2022. In the prior period, records showed 972 deaths, representing the highest number since the year 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and opponents are focus, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the government have employed the death penalty to quell dissent, instil fear among the public and tighten their control on rule.