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More than twenty Olympic medal winners, coaches and further world-class competitors have endorsed a appeal demanding a halt to the death penalty of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amidst growing worldwide anger over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a means of repression, the strongly worded appeal condemns the authorities's verdict to maintain the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is meant to inspire hope, solidarity, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to all sportspeople who ventures to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The statement noted that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and emphasized Iran’s history of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year national competitor, was also executed.

Other endorsers to the statement include a sailing champion, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to be awarded a prestigious nautical honor; the former leader of the national squad an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The accusations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of public property”. His ruling has been reversed multiple times but on October 4 it was upheld on the third occasion. His court case was denounced as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and organizations.

Call to International Body

The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, backed by over a hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding action to prevent the athlete’s execution.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has achieved alarming levels”. In the year 2023, the government sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, statistics showed 972 deaths, marking the maximum count since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Analysts say the regime have employed the executions to quell dissent, instil anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their control on power.