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In excess of 20 Olympic medallists, coaches and further global sports figures have endorsed a statement urging a end to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst increasing worldwide anger over the nation's escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the strongly worded appeal censures the authorities's ruling to maintain the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and charged of backing an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to inspire optimism, unity, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The letter noted that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's record of executing competitors for their beliefs, for example a football captain, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national competitor, was also executed.

Further signatories to the letter consist of a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the previous leader of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of government belongings”. His ruling has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His legal proceedings was denounced as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and bodies.

Appeal to International Body

The appeal to stop Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, backed by in excess of a hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding measures to stop the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

As per data, there is an “execution crisis in Iran, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on 2022. The year before, data showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the highest number since two thousand fifteen. In excess of 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are victims, particularly in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to stifle dissent, generate anxiety among the public and reinforce their hold on power.