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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, coaches and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a letter demanding a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the nation.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amid rising worldwide anger over the nation's expanding employment of capital punishment as a instrument of oppression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the government's verdict to confirm the capital punishment of the athlete.

The boxer, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of aiding an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in detention, where he has been abused and confined in solitary confinement.

“Sport is intended to promote optimism, unity, and courage,” the signatories expressed. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these values and a caution to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The statement pointed out that the athlete's circumstances was not unique and emphasized the country's history of sentencing to death athletes for their beliefs, including a football captain, captain of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a young national sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other signatories to the appeal include a yachting pioneer, who led the first women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to earn a esteemed sailing award; the previous captain of the national squad an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in March 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and damage of public property”. His verdict has been annulled on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His court case was condemned as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and organizations.

Call to International Body

The call to halt the boxer's capital punishment follows a 2023 letter to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by more than 100 human rights experts and entities, demanding action to avert the athlete’s death.

Execution Crisis

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached shocking proportions”. In the year 2023, authorities sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half increase on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the highest number since 2015. More than hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the executions to quell opposition, generate fear among the public and strengthen their grip on rule.