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Over 20 Olympic medallists, trainers and other world-class competitors have endorsed a letter demanding a stop to the execution of a champion boxer and trainer, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Escalating Global Anger

Amidst growing international outrage over the country's escalating use of executions as a instrument of repression, the powerfully expressed appeal condemns the government's decision to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete.

The boxer, thirty, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for being involved in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and accused of supporting an resistance movement. He has passed half a decade in detention, where he has been tortured and held in solitary confinement.

“Competition is designed to encourage hope, togetherness, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these principles and a caution to any competitor who ventures to express dissent.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The statement pointed out that the boxer's case was not unique and emphasized the nation's record of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, for example Habib Khabiri, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other signatories to the letter consist of a yachting pioneer, who led the first female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was maintained on the third attempt. His court case was condemned as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and groups.

Appeal to International Body

The urging to halt the athlete's death sentence follows a earlier appeal to the global human rights chief for rights, endorsed by more than one hundred rights specialists and entities, demanding intervention to stop the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has attained horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half rise on 2022. Last year, data showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, representing the highest number since two thousand fifteen. Over eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Experts say the government have employed the capital punishment to quell opposition, create apprehension among the citizenry and reinforce their grip on authority.