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More than twenty Olympic medal winners, coaches and additional global sports figures have signed a appeal demanding a stop to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

During growing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a means of oppression, the powerfully expressed statement censures the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and accused of aiding an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in detention, where he has been tortured and held in seclusion.

“Athletics is intended to encourage faith, unity, and fortitude,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out.

Record of Executing Athletes

The statement pointed out that the boxer's situation was not an isolated one and highlighted the country's past of executing athletes for their convictions, for example Habib Khabiri, leader of the football side, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, was put to death.

Other supporters to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the first all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the first woman to receive a renowned yachting trophy; the former captain of the national squad an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in early 2020. The charges against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been overturned on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations.

Call to UN

The urging to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment is subsequent to a previous statement to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by more than a hundred advocates and groups, demanding intervention to avert the competitor's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent increase on 2022. Last year, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the peak figure since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, particularly in the wake of the 2022's protests. Experts say the regime have used the capital punishment to suppress dissent, create apprehension among the citizenry and strengthen their control on power.