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Over twenty Olympic champions, trainers and additional global sports figures have endorsed a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing champion and trainer, who is on death row in Iran.

Increasing Global Anger

During growing international outrage over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a means of repression, the strongly worded statement censures the Iranian regime's verdict to maintain the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in seclusion.

“Sport is meant to promote optimism, unity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who attempts to express dissent.

Record of Killing Athletes

The letter pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and underscored the country's past of putting to death competitors for their views, including a football captain, leader of the football side, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Further endorsers to the statement comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a renowned sailing award; the ex- captain of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The accusations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies.

Appeal to UN

The appeal to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment is subsequent to a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by in excess of 100 human rights experts and groups, urging measures to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

Based on data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has attained horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. The year before, statistics showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the government have utilized the executions to quell dissent, generate apprehension among the population and reinforce their control on rule.