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In excess of two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and other world-class competitors have signed a letter calling for a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

Amidst increasing international outrage over the country's increasing application of capital punishment as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the authorities's decision to confirm the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and indicted of aiding an resistance movement. He has passed half a decade in detention, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement.

“Competition is intended to encourage hope, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a caution to all sportspeople who ventures to voice opinions.

Record of Killing Athletes

The letter noted that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the country's history of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, such as Habib Khabiri, captain of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other endorsers to the statement include Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a esteemed nautical honor; the ex- skipper of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The athlete was arrested in March 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been overturned twice but on 4 October it was maintained on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations.

Urging to International Body

The appeal to halt the boxer's capital punishment is subsequent to a 2023 appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, signed by in excess of one hundred rights specialists and organizations, urging action to avert the athlete’s death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached shocking dimensions”. In the year 2023, officials executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half rise on 2022. The year before, statistics showed 972 executions, constituting the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are targets, notably in the wake of the 2022's protests. Analysts say the regime have utilized the executions to suppress protest, create fear among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on rule.