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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and additional global sports figures have endorsed a statement calling for a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

Amidst increasing global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a means of suppression, the forcefully phrased letter denounces the government's verdict to maintain the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of supporting an opposition group. He has spent 60 months in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement.

“Sport is intended to inspire faith, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters expressed. “The execution of a winner for his opinions is a direct assault on these principles and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to express dissent.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter said that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and emphasized the country's past of sentencing to death competitors for their convictions, such as Habib Khabiri, skipper of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further signatories to the statement comprise a yachting pioneer, who led the inaugural women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to earn a prestigious sailing award; the former leader of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was detained in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of public property”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was maintained on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and groups.

Urging to International Body

The urging to stop the athlete's death sentence follows a previous letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by more than one hundred advocates and groups, urging action to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has achieved alarming proportions”. In the year 2023, officials executed at least 853 people – a nearly half surge on the previous year. Last year, statistics showed 972 executions, marking the peak figure since 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and opponents are targets, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the government have used the executions to suppress protest, create apprehension among the public and strengthen their control on rule.