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Over 20 Olympic medallists, mentors and further world-class competitors have endorsed a statement calling for a end to the death penalty of a champion boxer and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

Amidst growing international outrage over Iran’s expanding employment of capital punishment as a means of repression, the strongly worded appeal condemns the authorities's decision to uphold the execution order of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and charged of aiding an resistance movement. He has passed five years in detention, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is meant to promote hope, unity, and fortitude,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these principles and a warning to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Competitors

The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and underscored the country's history of putting to death competitors for their views, for example a football captain, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Other endorsers to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the first female-only team in a global yacht race and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned nautical honor; the ex- captain of the soccer side an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was detained in early 2020. The charges against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through arson and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on October 4 it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and groups.

Appeal to UN

The appeal to prevent the athlete's capital punishment comes after a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over 100 advocates and groups, calling for action to avert the competitor's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, authorities put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. The year before, records showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. In excess of eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Dissidents and opponents are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the government have used the executions to stifle dissent, instil apprehension among the population and reinforce their grip on rule.