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More than 20 Olympic medal winners, trainers and further global sports figures have signed a letter urging a end to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

During rising global condemnation over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the strongly worded statement denounces the Iranian regime's verdict to maintain the execution order of the boxing champion.

The athlete, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of aiding an dissident organization. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in isolation.

“Sport is meant to promote faith, unity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The execution of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a admonition to every athlete who dares to speak out.

Record of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The appeal said that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's past of executing athletes for their beliefs, including a national team leader, leader of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Further signatories to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the previous leader of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been overturned twice but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was criticized as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Call to UN

The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s death sentence comes after a earlier statement to the United Nations official for human rights, backed by more than 100 advocates and groups, urging action to stop the athlete’s death.

Execution Crisis

Based on reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has reached alarming dimensions”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a 48% increase on 2022. In the prior period, statistics showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the highest number since 2015. Over eight hundred people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Activists and opponents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Experts say the regime have employed the capital punishment to suppress protest, generate fear among the citizenry and tighten their control on power.