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More than two dozen Olympic champions, mentors and further world-class competitors have signed a appeal demanding a stop to the execution of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Growing International Outrage

Amidst rising international outrage over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a means of oppression, the powerfully expressed statement condemns the government's verdict to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was detained for being involved in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of backing an opposition group. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in seclusion.

“Competition is designed to encourage optimism, togetherness, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The death penalty of a champion for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a admonition to every athlete who attempts to speak out.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter noted that the athlete's situation was not an isolated one and emphasized the country's past of executing sports champions for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other supporters to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who captained the inaugural all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the first woman to earn a renowned nautical honor; the previous leader of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and damage of public property”. His sentence has been overturned multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His legal proceedings was denounced as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations.

Appeal to United Nations

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment follows a previous appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, backed by in excess of a hundred rights specialists and organizations, demanding action to prevent the athlete’s capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per reports, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half surge on 2022. Last year, data showed 972 executions, representing the peak figure since 2015. More than 800 people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Activists and dissidents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the executions to quell protest, generate anxiety among the population and strengthen their control on power.