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Over twenty Olympic champions, trainers and other world-class competitors have signed a appeal demanding a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Growing International Outrage

Amidst growing international outrage over the country's expanding employment of executions as a tool of repression, the strongly worded statement censures the authorities's decision to uphold the execution order of the boxing champion.

The boxer, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement.

“Competition is intended to promote hope, unity, and bravery,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who ventures to express dissent.

History of Executing Athletes

The statement pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was part of a pattern and underscored Iran’s record of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, including a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a young national sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other signatories to the statement comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to be awarded a esteemed sailing award; the former leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and ruin of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and bodies.

Urging to UN

The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by in excess of a hundred human rights experts and groups, demanding measures to prevent the athlete’s death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has reached alarming proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. Last year, records showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, constituting the highest number since two thousand fifteen. More than 800 people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and opponents are focus, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to suppress opposition, generate apprehension among the population and strengthen their hold on rule.