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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and other global sports figures have put their names to a statement calling for a stop to the execution of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is on death row in Iran.

Increasing Global Anger

During rising international outrage over the nation's escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of oppression, the strongly worded statement denounces the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, 30, from the city in the northern province, was detained for participating in national uprisings in 2019 and accused of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Athletics is designed to encourage optimism, unity, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a caution to every athlete who ventures to express dissent.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The letter noted that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's record of sentencing to death competitors for their views, such as a national team leader, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the appeal comprise a sailing champion, who led the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the initial female to be awarded a prestigious sailing award; the former skipper of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was arrested in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of state assets”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the latest review. His legal proceedings was denounced as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and groups.

Call to UN

The appeal to prevent Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, endorsed by over a hundred rights specialists and organizations, demanding intervention to stop the sports figure's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has attained alarming levels”. In 2023, officials executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are victims, notably in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the government have utilized the death penalty to quell dissent, instil anxiety among the population and reinforce their control on authority.