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Over 20 Olympic champions, mentors and additional international athletes have put their names to a statement urging a stop to the execution of a boxing champion and coach, who is on death row in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amid rising worldwide anger over the nation's escalating use of the death penalty as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the Iranian regime's verdict to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for participating in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and held in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to inspire hope, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters wrote. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to every athlete who ventures to voice opinions.

Pattern of Putting to Death Athletes

The statement pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s situation was part of a pattern and highlighted the nation's history of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Additional supporters to the letter include a yachting pioneer, who skippered the inaugural all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious nautical honor; the former leader of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was detained in March 2020. The allegations against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of public property”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and groups.

Urging to UN

The urging to prevent the boxer's capital punishment is subsequent to a 2023 appeal to the global human rights chief for freedoms, signed by in excess of 100 human rights experts and entities, calling for intervention to avert the athlete’s death.

Death Penalty Surge

According to reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has attained alarming proportions”. In 2023, the government executed at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on 2022. In the prior period, data showed 972 executions, marking the highest number since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Activists and opponents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Specialists say the regime have utilized the death penalty to stifle dissent, generate apprehension among the public and tighten their grip on rule.