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Over 20 Olympic champions, mentors and other world-class competitors have endorsed a statement calling for a halt to the execution of a champion boxer and instructor, who is on death row in the nation.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amid growing worldwide anger over the nation's escalating use of the death penalty as a instrument of oppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the authorities's ruling to maintain the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and charged of backing an opposition group. He has passed half a decade in detention, where he has been mistreated and held in isolation.

“Competition is meant to promote optimism, togetherness, and bravery,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a direct assault on these ideals and a warning to every athlete who ventures to voice opinions.

Record of Executing Athletes

The appeal said that the athlete's case was part of a pattern and underscored Iran’s history of putting to death athletes for their convictions, including a football captain, leader of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Further signatories to the letter consist of Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to be awarded a prestigious sailing award; the previous skipper of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was criticized as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and organizations.

Appeal to UN

The urging to prevent the athlete's execution comes after a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, backed by more than a hundred advocates and entities, calling for measures to stop the competitor's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has achieved alarming proportions”. In 2023, the government executed at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent rise on the previous year. The year before, statistics showed 972 capital punishments, representing the peak figure since 2015. More than 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have utilized the executions to quell opposition, instil apprehension among the public and reinforce their control on rule.