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In excess of 20 Olympic medallists, coaches and further global sports figures have endorsed a statement demanding a halt to the execution of a champion boxer and coach, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Increasing International Outrage

During increasing worldwide anger over the country's expanding employment of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the government's ruling to confirm the execution order of the boxing champion.

The boxer, 30, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in detention, where he has been mistreated and held in seclusion.

“Competition is meant to inspire optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a champion for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a warning to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s case was not an isolated one and highlighted Iran’s history of sentencing to death competitors for their beliefs, including a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other signatories to the statement include a sailing champion, who captained the inaugural all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the former skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been annulled twice but on October 4 it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “grossly unfair” by advocates and groups.

Call to United Nations

The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment is subsequent to a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, backed by over one hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding measures to stop the sports figure's execution.

Execution Crisis

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved alarming proportions”. In 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, representing the maximum count since 2015. More than 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Analysts say the regime have employed the capital punishment to quell dissent, create fear among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on power.