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In excess of 20 Olympic medallists, trainers and other international athletes have endorsed a appeal demanding a halt to the death penalty of a boxing champion and instructor, who is on death row in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

During increasing international outrage over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a instrument of repression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the Iranian regime's verdict to maintain the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for participating in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of backing an resistance movement. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement.

“Competition is intended to inspire hope, solidarity, and bravery,” the supporters wrote. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who ventures to express dissent.

History of Killing Competitors

The appeal said that the athlete's circumstances was part of a pattern and highlighted the nation's history of sentencing to death athletes for their beliefs, for example Habib Khabiri, skipper of the football side, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian competitor, faced the death penalty.

Other signatories to the statement include a sailing champion, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was detained in March 2020. The charges against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and ruin of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled multiple times but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and organizations.

Appeal to UN

The urging to stop the boxer's death sentence comes after a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, signed by in excess of 100 rights specialists and groups, urging intervention to prevent the athlete’s execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has attained alarming levels”. In the year 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. Last year, data showed 972 executions, constituting the highest number since two thousand fifteen. Over 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 protests. Experts say the government have utilized the capital punishment to stifle opposition, create anxiety among the citizenry and reinforce their hold on authority.