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Over two dozen Olympic medallists, coaches and additional world-class competitors have endorsed a statement calling for a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amid growing international outrage over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a instrument of oppression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and charged of aiding an opposition group. He has endured half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and held in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to promote faith, solidarity, and courage,” the endorsers stated. “The execution of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent.

History of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's record of putting to death competitors for their convictions, including a national team leader, skipper of the football side, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further endorsers to the appeal consist of a yachting pioneer, who skippered the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the ex- captain of the Australian football team an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The accusations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His trial was criticized as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and groups.

Appeal to UN

The call to halt the athlete's execution comes after a earlier statement to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by more than 100 rights specialists and groups, calling for intervention to stop the sports figure's death.

Execution Crisis

According to reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached alarming dimensions”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half surge on the previous year. The year before, records showed nearly a thousand deaths, marking the highest number since two thousand fifteen. Over 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are targets, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Specialists say the regime have employed the executions to stifle protest, generate fear among the population and tighten their control on power.