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Over two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and other international athletes have put their names to a letter calling for a end to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Increasing International Outrage

Amid rising worldwide anger over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a means of repression, the forcefully phrased letter denounces the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the execution order of the boxing champion.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was detained for participating in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of supporting an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and kept in isolation.

“Competition is designed to promote optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a clear violation on these values and a caution to any competitor who attempts to express dissent.

Record of Killing Competitors

The appeal pointed out that the athlete's circumstances was not unique and underscored Iran’s past of executing sports champions for their convictions, such as a football captain, leader of the football side, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further supporters to the statement include Tracy Edwards, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a esteemed nautical honor; the former captain of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and groups.

Appeal to International Body

The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s execution follows a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, endorsed by more than a hundred human rights experts and entities, urging action to prevent the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

According to data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on the previous year. In the prior period, statistics showed 972 capital punishments, marking the maximum count since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to suppress protest, instil apprehension among the public and tighten their grip on authority.