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Over 20 Olympic medal winners, trainers and further world-class competitors have put their names to a appeal calling for a halt to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Increasing International Outrage

Amidst increasing international outrage over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the strongly worded statement censures the Iranian regime's verdict to confirm the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, thirty, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of aiding an resistance movement. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in solitary confinement.

“Sport is designed to encourage faith, togetherness, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his opinions is a clear violation on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent.

Pattern of Executing Athletes

The letter pointed out that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and highlighted the country's record of executing athletes for their beliefs, such as a football captain, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Further signatories to the appeal include a sailing champion, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned nautical honor; the previous leader of the national squad Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of state assets”. His sentence has been reversed on two occasions but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and bodies.

Appeal to UN

The urging to stop the athlete's capital punishment comes after a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over one hundred advocates and entities, calling for action to prevent the competitor's death.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has reached alarming dimensions”. In 2023, the government executed at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on 2022. In the prior period, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. More than 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are focus, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to suppress opposition, instil apprehension among the public and reinforce their grip on rule.