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Over twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and other international athletes have endorsed a letter calling for a halt to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

During rising global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a means of suppression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the government's ruling to uphold the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

The boxer, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for participating in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of backing an opposition group. He has passed half a decade in incarceration, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Competition is designed to inspire faith, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these ideals and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to express dissent.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and emphasized Iran’s history of executing athletes for their views, for example a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other supporters to the appeal include a sailing champion, who led the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a prestigious nautical honor; the former skipper of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His trial was condemned as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and bodies.

Appeal to United Nations

The urging to stop the athlete's capital punishment comes after a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, signed by more than 100 human rights experts and organizations, calling for measures to avert the competitor's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has attained horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, authorities executed at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. The year before, data showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the peak figure since the year 2015. In excess of 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Specialists say the government have used the executions to quell protest, generate anxiety among the public and reinforce their hold on authority.