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More than two dozen Olympic champions, coaches and additional global sports figures have signed a statement urging a stop to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst growing global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of oppression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the authorities's verdict to maintain the death sentence of the athlete.

The athlete, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has spent five years in detention, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Competition is intended to inspire hope, togetherness, and fortitude,” the supporters wrote. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to all sportspeople who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Competitors

The statement pointed out that the athlete's situation was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's past of executing athletes for their views, for example a football captain, skipper of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year national wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the letter include Tracy Edwards, who led the inaugural all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the ex- leader of the Australian football team an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was detained in the spring of 2020. The charges against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and groups.

Urging to United Nations

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a earlier statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, endorsed by over a hundred rights specialists and organizations, demanding intervention to avert the sports figure's execution.

Execution Crisis

According to findings, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials executed at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. Last year, data showed 972 capital punishments, constituting the highest number since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the government have utilized the executions to quell dissent, instil apprehension among the public and reinforce their control on power.