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More than 20 Olympic medallists, mentors and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a letter urging a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing International Outrage

Amid increasing global condemnation over the country's expanding employment of capital punishment as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded letter censures the authorities's decision to confirm the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was arrested for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Competition is designed to inspire faith, unity, and fortitude,” the endorsers stated. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a clear violation on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who ventures to express dissent.

History of Killing Athletes

The statement said that Vafaei Sani’s case was not unique and highlighted the nation's record of putting to death sports champions for their views, such as a football captain, skipper of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, was put to death.

Other supporters to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who led the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed sailing award; the ex- skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The athlete was detained in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Appeal to International Body

The appeal to stop the boxer's capital punishment comes after a previous appeal to the global human rights chief for rights, backed by over a hundred human rights experts and organizations, urging action to avert the competitor's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has attained alarming levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. Last year, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the maximum count since 2015. More than hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are targets, particularly in the wake of the 2022 uprising. Specialists say the government have utilized the death penalty to quell dissent, generate anxiety among the population and strengthen their hold on power.