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Over twenty Olympic medal winners, trainers and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a appeal calling for a stop to the execution of a champion boxer and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Growing International Outrage

During growing worldwide anger over the nation's escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of suppression, the powerfully expressed statement denounces the Iranian regime's decision to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of aiding an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in incarceration, where he has been abused and confined in seclusion.

“Competition is meant to encourage optimism, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Athletes

The letter noted that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and emphasized Iran’s past of executing sports champions for their views, including a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Other signatories to the appeal consist of Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a prestigious sailing award; the former captain of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of public property”. His sentence has been reversed multiple times but on October 4 it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and bodies.

Call to UN

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s death sentence is subsequent to a earlier statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, endorsed by in excess of 100 human rights experts and entities, demanding measures to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved alarming dimensions”. In 2023, authorities executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on the previous year. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Dissidents and dissidents are focus, especially in the wake of the 2022's protests. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to stifle opposition, generate fear among the public and tighten their control on rule.