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In excess of two dozen Olympic champions, mentors and additional world-class competitors have endorsed a appeal demanding a halt to the death penalty of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Growing International Outrage

During rising worldwide anger over the country's expanding employment of the death penalty as a tool of suppression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the authorities's decision to uphold the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was detained for participating in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of backing an opposition group. He has spent 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and held in solitary confinement.

“Competition is designed to promote hope, solidarity, and courage,” the supporters wrote. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a clear violation on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who dares to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Athletes

The statement pointed out that the athlete's case was not unique and highlighted the country's history of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, for example a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a young Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Additional endorsers to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a esteemed nautical honor; the former leader of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was detained in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and organizations.

Urging to UN

The call to prevent the athlete's capital punishment comes after a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, signed by over a hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding action to avert the competitor's execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “execution crisis in Iran, which has achieved alarming levels”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. In the prior period, data showed 972 executions, representing the maximum count since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Experts say the government have utilized the death penalty to quell opposition, generate fear among the citizenry and reinforce their grip on rule.