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More than twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and other world-class competitors have endorsed a statement calling for a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is on death row in Iran.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst rising worldwide anger over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the government's verdict to confirm the capital punishment of the athlete.

The athlete, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Sport is designed to inspire faith, solidarity, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to any competitor who ventures to express dissent.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The letter noted that the athlete's circumstances was not unique and underscored the nation's history of sentencing to death athletes for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national competitor, was put to death.

Other supporters to the statement comprise a sailing champion, who led the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a prestigious yachting trophy; the ex- captain of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The athlete was detained in early 2020. The allegations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third attempt. His trial was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Call to United Nations

The appeal to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a earlier statement to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by over 100 rights specialists and organizations, demanding action to prevent the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on 2022. Last year, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the maximum count since 2015. More than 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are victims, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have employed the executions to quell protest, create anxiety among the population and tighten their grip on power.