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More than 20 Olympic champions, mentors and additional international athletes have signed a appeal urging a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amid rising worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a tool of oppression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the Iranian regime's decision to confirm the capital punishment of the athlete.

The athlete, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and indicted of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed five years in detention, where he has been tortured and kept in isolation.

“Sport is intended to promote faith, unity, and courage,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his opinions is a clear violation on these principles and a caution to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Athletes

The appeal pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not an isolated one and emphasized the nation's past of putting to death sports champions for their views, including a national team leader, captain of the football side, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year national competitor, faced the death penalty.

Other signatories to the statement comprise a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to earn a renowned yachting trophy; the former leader of the soccer side an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The charges against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and organizations.

Urging to UN

The appeal to halt the boxer's execution follows a earlier statement to the global human rights chief for human rights, signed by more than 100 human rights experts and groups, calling for action to prevent the sports figure's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In 2023, the government put to death at least 853 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. In excess of 800 people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the regime have utilized the executions to quell dissent, instil anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their hold on rule.