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In excess of twenty Olympic champions, mentors and other world-class competitors have put their names to a statement demanding a end to the death penalty of a champion boxer and trainer, who is on death row in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

During rising worldwide anger over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the government's ruling to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for participating in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and indicted of aiding an opposition group. He has passed half a decade in incarceration, where he has been tortured and kept in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to promote faith, solidarity, and fortitude,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who dares to speak out.

History of Executing Competitors

The appeal noted that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and emphasized the nation's past of sentencing to death competitors for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the female volleyball side. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Other signatories to the letter include Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a prestigious nautical honor; the former captain of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was detained in March 2020. The accusations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and bodies.

Appeal to United Nations

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, signed by more than 100 rights specialists and groups, demanding action to avert the competitor's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half surge on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the highest number since the year 2015. Over eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and dissidents are victims, notably in the wake of the 2022's protests. Specialists say the government have utilized the executions to suppress opposition, create apprehension among the population and tighten their control on authority.