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More than 20 Olympic medallists, trainers and other international athletes have put their names to a statement demanding a halt to the death penalty of a boxing champion and coach, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amid increasing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a means of oppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the capital punishment of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from Mashhad in the northern province, was detained for taking part in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and accused of backing an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been abused and confined in seclusion.

“Competition is designed to inspire optimism, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who dares to express dissent.

Record of Killing Athletes

The statement said that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's record of sentencing to death athletes for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian competitor, was put to death.

Further endorsers to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a prestigious yachting trophy; the previous captain of the Australian football team an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was detained in early 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed multiple times but on 4 October it was maintained on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and organizations.

Call to International Body

The appeal to prevent the athlete's capital punishment follows a earlier letter to the United Nations official for rights, signed by in excess of a hundred rights specialists and groups, urging measures to stop the sports figure's execution.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached shocking levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. Last year, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the maximum count since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been executed so far in the current year.

Dissidents and dissidents are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Experts say the regime have employed the executions to stifle opposition, create anxiety among the population and tighten their grip on power.