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Over two dozen Olympic medallists, coaches and additional world-class competitors have signed a appeal calling for a end to the death penalty of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating Global Anger

Amid increasing international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a instrument of oppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in detention, where he has been abused and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is designed to encourage optimism, unity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a blatant attack on these values and a warning to every athlete who ventures to voice opinions.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter noted that the boxer's case was not unique and underscored the nation's past of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, for example a national team leader, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further endorsers to the statement comprise a yachting pioneer, who captained the first all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the former captain of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was detained in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His sentence has been reversed twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the latest review. His legal proceedings was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Call to United Nations

The appeal to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment follows a 2023 letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over 100 advocates and entities, urging intervention to prevent the sports figure's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to data, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has attained alarming proportions”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least 853 people – a 48% increase on 2022. Last year, data showed nearly a thousand executions, representing the highest number since 2015. More than eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the regime have utilized the death penalty to stifle opposition, generate fear among the public and reinforce their hold on power.