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In excess of 20 Olympic champions, trainers and additional international athletes have endorsed a letter calling for a stop to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is on death row in Iran.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amid increasing international outrage over the nation's expanding employment of executions as a instrument of repression, the strongly worded appeal condemns the Iranian regime's decision to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

The athlete, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been abused and held in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to inspire faith, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a champion for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a caution to any competitor who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The appeal pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s case was part of a pattern and underscored the country's record of executing sports champions for their beliefs, including a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Further signatories to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who led the first all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious sailing award; the previous skipper of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The athlete was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of public property”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His trial was condemned as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and organizations.

Call to UN

The urging to stop the athlete's execution follows a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, signed by over a hundred advocates and entities, demanding action to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on 2022. The year before, records showed 972 capital punishments, constituting the highest number since two thousand fifteen. More than hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Experts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to quell protest, instil apprehension among the population and strengthen their control on power.