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Over twenty Olympic medallists, mentors and additional global sports figures have put their names to a appeal calling for a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst growing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a instrument of repression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and accused of backing an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is designed to promote faith, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The execution of a winner for his beliefs is a direct assault on these values and a caution to any competitor who ventures to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal pointed out that the boxer's case was not unique and underscored Iran’s history of sentencing to death athletes for their views, including Habib Khabiri, skipper of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national competitor, was also executed.

Additional supporters to the letter 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 renowned sailing award; the ex- leader of the soccer side an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been annulled twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the latest review. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by advocates and organizations.

Appeal to United Nations

The appeal to prevent the boxer's execution follows a 2023 letter to the United Nations official for freedoms, endorsed by over 100 human rights experts and entities, demanding intervention to avert the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved alarming levels”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. The year before, data showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the peak figure since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Analysts say the government have utilized the executions to quell protest, generate anxiety among the public and strengthen their hold on rule.