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Over twenty Olympic champions, mentors and other world-class competitors have put their names to a letter urging a halt to the death penalty of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

Amid rising international outrage over the country's increasing application of capital punishment as a instrument of suppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the government's ruling to uphold the capital punishment of the athlete.

The boxer, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was detained for taking part in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and kept in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is meant to inspire hope, solidarity, and fortitude,” the supporters wrote. “The execution of a champion for his opinions is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who ventures to speak out.

Record of Executing Competitors

The appeal noted that the boxer's case was not unique and emphasized Iran’s record of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, including a football captain, skipper of the football side, and a volleyball captain, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Additional signatories to the letter comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the ex- leader of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in March 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of public property”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on October 4 it was maintained on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and bodies.

Urging to International Body

The appeal to prevent the boxer's execution is subsequent to a earlier statement to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by more than 100 rights specialists and entities, urging action to stop the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has achieved horrific levels”. In the year 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. Last year, records showed 972 deaths, representing the highest number since two thousand fifteen. More than eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and dissidents are victims, particularly in the wake of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the government have used the executions to suppress opposition, generate anxiety among the public and reinforce their hold on authority.