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More than twenty Olympic medal winners, trainers and other world-class competitors have put their names to a letter demanding a stop to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing International Outrage

During growing worldwide anger over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment as a instrument of oppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the Iranian regime's verdict to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and accused of supporting an resistance movement. He has endured five years in detention, where he has been tortured and confined in isolation.

“Sport is designed to encourage faith, unity, and bravery,” the endorsers expressed. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these principles and a admonition to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The letter said that the boxer's situation was not unique and highlighted Iran’s past of executing sports champions for their beliefs, such as a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further supporters to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who led the first all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the previous leader of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and ruin of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and bodies.

Urging to UN

The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over one hundred advocates and entities, urging measures to avert the athlete’s capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has reached alarming proportions”. In 2023, officials executed at least 853 people – a 48% surge on 2022. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, constituting the peak figure since the year 2015. In excess of 800 people have been executed so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, especially in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the regime have utilized the executions to suppress protest, generate apprehension among the public and tighten their hold on power.