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In excess of twenty Olympic medallists, mentors and additional global sports figures have put their names to a appeal calling for a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is on death row in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

During growing worldwide anger over the country's increasing application of executions as a tool of repression, the strongly worded statement denounces the Iranian regime's verdict to maintain the execution order of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been tortured and kept in seclusion.

“Competition is intended to promote hope, solidarity, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a champion for his opinions is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

Record of Killing Sports Figures

The statement said that the athlete's circumstances was not unique and emphasized the country's record of executing competitors for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other endorsers to the statement comprise a sailing champion, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the former leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was detained in early 2020. The accusations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of state assets”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Urging to International Body

The appeal to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment follows a earlier appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, signed by more than a hundred advocates and groups, demanding intervention to prevent the athlete’s capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to reports, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached alarming proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. Last year, data showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the maximum count since the year 2015. More than hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Experts say the government have employed the executions to stifle dissent, create fear among the citizenry and strengthen their control on authority.