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Over twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and further global sports figures have put their names to a appeal urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is facing execution in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst growing international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the Iranian regime's ruling to maintain the execution order of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for taking part in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of backing an resistance movement. He has endured five years in detention, where he has been abused and confined in solitary confinement.

“Competition is designed to encourage faith, togetherness, and fortitude,” the supporters wrote. “The execution of a champion for his beliefs is a direct assault on these values and a caution to every athlete who attempts to express dissent.

History of Killing Competitors

The appeal noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's history of putting to death athletes for their views, such as a football captain, leader of the football side, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a young national competitor, was put to death.

Other signatories to the statement consist of a yachting pioneer, who skippered the first female-only team in a global yacht race and was the initial female to receive a renowned sailing award; the ex- skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The boxer was detained in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of state assets”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on October 4 it was maintained on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was condemned as “grossly unfair” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to International Body

The urging to prevent the athlete's death sentence comes after a previous appeal to the United Nations official for freedoms, backed by more than 100 advocates and organizations, calling for measures to stop the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has reached shocking dimensions”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half surge on the previous year. Last year, records showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, representing the highest number since 2015. In excess of 800 people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Activists and dissidents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the regime have used the death penalty to quell dissent, generate apprehension among the population and strengthen their grip on power.