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Over 20 Olympic medallists, trainers and other international athletes have put their names to a appeal calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating International Outrage

During rising global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a instrument of oppression, the powerfully expressed appeal censures the Iranian regime's ruling to maintain the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is meant to encourage faith, unity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to speak out.

History of Executing Sports Figures

The appeal pointed out that the athlete's case was not unique and highlighted the nation's history of executing athletes for their views, including a national team leader, captain 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 national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other supporters to the letter include Tracy Edwards, who led the inaugural female-only team in a global yacht race and was the initial female to receive a renowned yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the Australian football team an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was taken into custody in March 2020. The accusations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been reversed twice but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Call to United Nations

The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment comes after a 2023 letter to the United Nations official for rights, signed by over one hundred rights specialists and organizations, demanding measures to prevent the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

According to findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has reached alarming dimensions”. In the year 2023, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half surge on the previous year. Last year, records showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the highest number since 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Specialists say the government have utilized the capital punishment to quell opposition, instil fear among the citizenry and tighten their control on rule.