🔗 Share this article Olympians Appeal on Iran to Prevent Execution of Champion Boxer More than two dozen Olympic champions, trainers and additional global sports figures have put their names to a appeal urging a stop to the death penalty of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country. Increasing Global Anger Amid rising international outrage over the nation's expanding employment of capital punishment as a tool of repression, the strongly worded letter censures the authorities's verdict to confirm the execution order of the athlete. The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in the year 2019 and accused of supporting an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been tortured and held in seclusion. “Competition is meant to inspire faith, solidarity, and courage,” the endorsers expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a direct assault on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to express dissent. Record of Putting to Death Athletes The statement said that Vafaei Sani’s case was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's record of executing athletes for their views, such as a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, was put to death. Further signatories to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who led the first women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the ex- skipper of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup. Apprehension and Unfair Trial The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The accusations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been overturned twice but on October 4 it was upheld on the third attempt. His court case was condemned as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and bodies. Appeal to International Body The call to stop the athlete's capital punishment is subsequent to a 2023 statement to the global human rights chief for rights, endorsed by in excess of a hundred human rights experts and groups, demanding action to stop the competitor's capital punishment. Execution Crisis Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In the year 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent surge on the previous year. In the prior period, data showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, representing the maximum count since the year 2015. Over eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025. Political prisoners and opponents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Experts say the government have utilized the death penalty to quell opposition, create anxiety among the population and tighten their grip on power.