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Over 20 Olympic medal winners, coaches and further world-class competitors have endorsed a appeal urging a end to the execution of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst rising international outrage over the country's expanding employment of the death penalty as a means of repression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the authorities's verdict to uphold the execution order of the boxing champion.

The boxer, 30, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has spent five years in detention, where he has been abused and held in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is meant to inspire optimism, unity, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The execution of a champion for his opinions is a clear violation on these values and a caution to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The statement said that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and emphasized the nation's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, such as a national team leader, skipper of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Further signatories to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who led the first all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a renowned sailing award; the previous skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His sentence has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and bodies.

Appeal to UN

The urging to halt the athlete's capital punishment comes after a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by over one hundred advocates and organizations, urging measures to avert the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has attained alarming proportions”. In the year 2023, officials put to death at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since 2015. Over eight hundred people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to quell protest, create fear among the population and tighten their control on rule.