🔗 Share this article Elite Athletes Appeal on Iran to Prevent Death Sentence of Boxing Champion In excess of twenty Olympic champions, coaches and additional global sports figures have endorsed a statement demanding a halt to the execution of a champion boxer and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran. Increasing International Outrage Amid increasing international outrage over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of the athlete. The athlete, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and charged of backing an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in incarceration, where he has been tortured and kept in seclusion. “Athletics is intended to promote faith, unity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these values and a admonition to any competitor who dares to speak out. Pattern of Putting to Death Athletes The appeal noted that the athlete's case was part of a pattern and highlighted the nation's history of putting to death competitors for their views, including a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty. Additional supporters to the statement comprise a yachting pioneer, who led the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament. Detention and Unfair Trial The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of public property”. His sentence has been annulled on two occasions but on October 4 it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies. Appeal to United Nations The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s execution follows a 2023 letter to the United Nations official for rights, endorsed by more than 100 human rights experts and entities, calling for action to avert the athlete’s death. Execution Crisis Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has attained shocking dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, data showed 972 capital punishments, representing the peak figure since 2015. More than hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025. Dissidents and protesters are focus, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Specialists say the government have used the executions to suppress dissent, generate fear among the citizenry and reinforce their control on power.