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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, mentors and further international athletes have put their names to a appeal urging a end to the execution of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is on death row in the nation.

Escalating International Outrage

Amid rising international outrage over the country's escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of repression, the forcefully phrased statement denounces the Iranian regime's decision to confirm the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of aiding an opposition group. He has spent 60 months in incarceration, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is intended to inspire hope, solidarity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a caution to every athlete who dares to speak out.

History of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The statement pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and emphasized Iran’s past of sentencing to death sports champions for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a young national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional endorsers to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who led the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a renowned sailing award; the ex- leader of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was detained in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of public property”. His verdict has been overturned multiple times but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations.

Call to International Body

The appeal to prevent Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a earlier appeal to the United Nations official for rights, backed by over one hundred rights specialists and entities, urging intervention to avert the competitor's death.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on findings, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has attained alarming levels”. In 2023, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. The year before, records showed 972 deaths, constituting the highest number since the year 2015. Over eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are targets, notably in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have employed the executions to stifle opposition, generate fear among the citizenry and tighten their grip on power.