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In excess of two dozen Olympic champions, coaches and further world-class competitors have put their names to a letter demanding a halt to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is facing execution in the nation.

Growing International Outrage

Amid increasing worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded statement denounces the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of supporting an resistance movement. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and held in solitary confinement.

“Sport is designed to inspire optimism, solidarity, and fortitude,” the supporters expressed. “The execution of a champion for his opinions is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who attempts to voice opinions.

Record of Executing Athletes

The statement pointed out that the athlete's case was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's history of executing competitors for their beliefs, such as a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a young national wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further endorsers to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups.

Call to United Nations

The urging to halt the athlete's capital punishment comes after a previous appeal to the United Nations official for human rights, signed by more than one hundred rights specialists and organizations, demanding intervention to prevent the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has attained horrific dimensions”. In 2023, authorities executed at least 853 people – a nearly half surge on the previous year. The year before, statistics showed 972 deaths, representing the maximum count since the year 2015. More than hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Specialists say the government have used the death penalty to quell protest, generate anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their control on rule.