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More than 20 Olympic medal winners, mentors and additional global sports figures have put their names to a letter urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is on death row in Iran.

Growing International Outrage

During rising worldwide anger over the country's escalating use of executions as a instrument of suppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the government's ruling to confirm the capital punishment of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of aiding an opposition group. He has endured half a decade in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and kept in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is meant to inspire faith, togetherness, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these ideals and a caution to all sportspeople who dares to speak out.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The statement pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and highlighted Iran’s history of executing athletes for their convictions, including a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the statement comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to receive a prestigious sailing award; the ex- captain of the national squad an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of state assets”. His verdict has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third attempt. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and groups.

Call to United Nations

The appeal to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment is subsequent to a previous letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, signed by over a hundred human rights experts and organizations, calling for measures to avert the competitor's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

According to reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has reached horrific levels”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, records showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. In excess of eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Activists and protesters are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to quell dissent, generate apprehension among the citizenry and reinforce their hold on rule.