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More than 20 Olympic medallists, trainers and further global sports figures have endorsed a appeal demanding a stop to the execution of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating International Outrage

Amid increasing global condemnation over the nation's expanding employment of capital punishment as a instrument of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter censures the authorities's verdict to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, 30, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and indicted of aiding an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and held in seclusion.

“Competition is meant to inspire hope, togetherness, and bravery,” the endorsers expressed. “The execution of a champion for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to speak out.

History of Killing Athletes

The appeal said that Vafaei Sani’s case was not unique and highlighted the country's history of sentencing to death athletes for their views, for example a national team leader, skipper of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further supporters to the statement include Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to earn a esteemed nautical honor; the former leader of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was arrested in early 2020. The charges against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His sentence has been reversed on two occasions but on October 4 it was confirmed on the latest review. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and groups.

Call to UN

The appeal to stop Vafaei Sani’s death sentence comes after a 2023 letter to the United Nations official for human rights, backed by more than 100 human rights experts and organizations, calling for action to avert the sports figure's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in Iran, which has reached shocking levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. Last year, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the highest number since two thousand fifteen. In excess of hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and opponents are victims, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Specialists say the government have used the executions to quell dissent, create anxiety among the population and strengthen their hold on power.