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More than twenty Olympic medallists, trainers and other world-class competitors have endorsed a statement demanding a stop to the execution of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

Amidst increasing international outrage over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the government's decision to maintain the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of backing an resistance movement. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Athletics is meant to encourage faith, solidarity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The statement pointed out that the boxer's case was not unique and emphasized the country's past of sentencing to death athletes for their convictions, such as a football captain, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other endorsers to the appeal include a sailing champion, who led the inaugural women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to be awarded a prestigious yachting trophy; the former leader of the Australian football team an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third occasion. His trial was condemned as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and bodies.

Appeal to UN

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment comes after a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, endorsed by more than a hundred rights specialists and entities, urging measures to avert the sports figure's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached shocking dimensions”. In 2023, the government sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. In the prior period, statistics showed 972 deaths, representing the highest number since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Dissidents and protesters are victims, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to stifle protest, instil fear among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on authority.