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More than twenty Olympic medallists, trainers and additional international athletes have signed a letter calling for a stop to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst rising worldwide anger over the nation's increasing application of executions as a means of oppression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the Iranian regime's decision to maintain the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of backing an dissident organization. He has spent half a decade in prison, where he has been mistreated and confined in isolation.

“Athletics is meant to inspire faith, solidarity, and fortitude,” the supporters wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to any competitor who ventures to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The statement pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and highlighted Iran’s past of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, including a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national competitor, was also executed.

Additional supporters to the letter comprise Tracy Edwards, who skippered the pioneering all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the former skipper of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and organizations.

Urging to UN

The urging to prevent Vafaei Sani’s death sentence comes after a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, endorsed by over one hundred advocates and organizations, demanding measures to avert the competitor's death.

Execution Crisis

Based on data, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has achieved horrific levels”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% increase on the previous year. The year before, records showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the maximum count since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Activists and dissidents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Experts say the Iranian authorities have used the death penalty to quell opposition, create fear among the population and tighten their control on authority.