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Over twenty Olympic medallists, mentors and additional global sports figures have signed a appeal urging a halt to the death penalty of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing International Outrage

Amid increasing global condemnation over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the strongly worded statement denounces the Iranian regime's verdict to maintain the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for participating in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of backing an resistance movement. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been mistreated and held in solitary confinement.

“Competition is meant to promote optimism, solidarity, and fortitude,” the endorsers stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these ideals and a warning to every athlete who attempts to express dissent.

Record of Executing Sports Figures

The statement said that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and highlighted Iran’s record of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, including Habib Khabiri, captain of the football side, and a women's sports leader, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the appeal include a sailing champion, who led the pioneering female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a prestigious yachting trophy; the previous leader of the soccer side an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The athlete was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of public property”. His ruling has been reversed on two occasions but on October 4 it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was condemned as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and organizations.

Call to International Body

The urging to prevent Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment is subsequent to a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for rights, backed by in excess of one hundred advocates and organizations, calling for intervention to prevent the sports figure's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has reached horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, officials executed at least over 850 people – a nearly half surge on 2022. In the prior period, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the highest number since the year 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the government have used the capital punishment to stifle protest, instil anxiety among the public and strengthen their hold on authority.