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In excess of two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and further global sports figures have put their names to a statement calling for a halt to the execution of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the nation.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst growing global condemnation over the country's escalating use of capital punishment as a means of oppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the authorities's decision to uphold the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for participating in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and indicted of supporting an resistance movement. He has spent 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and confined in seclusion.

“Competition is designed to encourage hope, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The letter noted that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the country's past of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, including a national team leader, 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 Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Additional supporters to the letter include Tracy Edwards, who captained the first female-only team in a global yacht race and was the initial female to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the former skipper of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of government belongings”. His sentence has been reversed twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and bodies.

Urging to UN

The urging to prevent the athlete's capital punishment follows a 2023 appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by in excess of one hundred rights specialists and entities, calling for action to prevent the sports figure's execution.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has reached alarming proportions”. In the year 2023, officials put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, representing the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. More than eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Dissidents and opponents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Experts say the regime have used the executions to stifle opposition, instil fear among the public and tighten their hold on authority.