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More than two dozen Olympic champions, mentors and additional international athletes have put their names to a letter calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and trainer, who is on death row in Iran.

Increasing Global Anger

During rising worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the government's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and accused of backing an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in incarceration, where he has been tortured and kept in isolation.

“Athletics is designed to promote optimism, unity, and courage,” the endorsers stated. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a admonition to all sportspeople who ventures to voice opinions.

History of Executing Competitors

The letter noted that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and highlighted Iran’s record of executing athletes for their views, including a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other signatories to the appeal include Tracy Edwards, who captained the first women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to earn a prestigious nautical honor; the former captain of the national squad a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The athlete was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His ruling has been reversed multiple times but on October 4 it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was denounced as “highly unjust” by advocates and bodies.

Call to International Body

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution is subsequent to a 2023 statement to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by more than 100 advocates and groups, urging measures to stop the athlete’s execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has reached alarming proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. The year before, data showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Experts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to suppress protest, create anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their control on authority.