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In excess of twenty Olympic champions, trainers and other international athletes have endorsed a letter calling for a stop to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

During growing global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of the death penalty as a means of repression, the forcefully phrased statement censures the authorities's decision to confirm the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

The boxer, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed half a decade in detention, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Sport is intended to promote optimism, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who ventures to speak out.

Record of Killing Athletes

The letter said that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and underscored the country's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their beliefs, such as Habib Khabiri, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national wrestling champion, was also executed.

Additional signatories to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who led the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious nautical honor; the previous captain of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of government belongings”. His sentence has been reversed multiple times but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was condemned as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations.

Appeal to United Nations

The urging to stop the athlete's death sentence comes after a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by more than a hundred rights specialists and organizations, calling for action to stop the athlete’s execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached alarming levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. Last year, data showed 972 deaths, constituting the maximum count since 2015. More than hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and opponents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have employed the capital punishment to stifle opposition, create anxiety among the population and tighten their control on rule.