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More than 20 Olympic medallists, mentors and other international athletes have endorsed a statement calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating International Outrage

Amidst rising international outrage over the nation's escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of repression, the powerfully expressed appeal censures the Iranian regime's verdict to confirm the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of supporting an dissident organization. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Competition is intended to promote hope, unity, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a warning to every athlete who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s case was part of a pattern and underscored the country's record of putting to death athletes for their convictions, including a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old national competitor, was also executed.

Additional endorsers to the statement comprise a sailing champion, who skippered the first all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a renowned nautical honor; the ex- captain of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The charges against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of state assets”. His sentence has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the latest review. His court case was criticized as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and bodies.

Appeal to International Body

The call to stop Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, backed by in excess of 100 rights specialists and organizations, demanding measures to avert the sports figure's death.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained shocking dimensions”. In 2023, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on the previous year. The year before, data showed 972 capital punishments, marking the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. In excess of eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Dissidents and protesters are victims, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have employed the executions to stifle protest, generate fear among the citizenry and strengthen their hold on power.