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In excess of two dozen Olympic champions, coaches and further world-class competitors have signed a statement calling for a end to the execution of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst rising international outrage over the country's escalating use of executions as a means of repression, the strongly worded letter censures the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of backing an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in prison, where he has been mistreated and kept in seclusion.

“Competition is designed to inspire faith, solidarity, and courage,” the supporters expressed. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these values and a caution to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

History of Executing Competitors

The appeal pointed out that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and highlighted the nation's history of putting to death sports champions for their views, including a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the letter include a sailing champion, who led the inaugural all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious sailing award; the previous leader of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was detained in early 2020. The charges against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was denounced as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies.

Call to UN

The call to halt the boxer's capital punishment comes after a earlier statement to the global human rights chief for rights, endorsed by more than a hundred advocates and organizations, demanding action to stop the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on data, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half increase on 2022. Last year, data showed nearly a thousand deaths, marking the maximum count since the year 2015. In excess of 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are victims, notably in the wake of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the government have employed the capital punishment to suppress opposition, generate anxiety among the public and strengthen their grip on authority.