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Over 20 Olympic medal winners, trainers and other global sports figures have put their names to a letter calling for a stop to the death penalty of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

During increasing global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a means of oppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the government's ruling to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been abused and kept in isolation.

“Sport is intended to encourage hope, solidarity, and courage,” the endorsers expressed. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these values and a caution to every athlete who ventures to speak out.

History of Putting to Death Competitors

The statement pointed out that the athlete's circumstances was not unique and highlighted the nation's history of putting to death competitors for their convictions, such as a football captain, leader of the football side, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who led the first women's squad in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the former captain of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and damage of public property”. His verdict has been overturned multiple times but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Call to United Nations

The call to halt the athlete's execution is subsequent to a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for rights, endorsed by over one hundred rights specialists and groups, urging action to stop the athlete’s death.

Execution Crisis

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved shocking levels”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the peak figure since 2015. Over 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to suppress opposition, instil anxiety among the public and tighten their control on rule.