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More than two dozen Olympic champions, mentors and other international athletes have signed a appeal urging a stop to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

During rising worldwide anger over the nation's increasing application of executions as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed appeal condemns the government's verdict to uphold the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been mistreated and kept in solitary confinement.

“Sport is meant to encourage hope, solidarity, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a winner for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a caution to any competitor who dares to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal noted that the athlete's circumstances was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's history of putting to death competitors for their beliefs, including a national team leader, skipper of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Other endorsers to the statement comprise a yachting pioneer, who skippered the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to earn a esteemed sailing award; the previous skipper of the Australian football team an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on October 4 it was upheld on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “highly unjust” by advocates and bodies.

Urging to United Nations

The urging to stop the boxer's execution comes after a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for freedoms, signed by more than a hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding measures to prevent the sports figure's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved alarming levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government put to death at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. The year before, data showed 972 deaths, representing the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. More than hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Activists and dissidents are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the regime have employed the capital punishment to suppress protest, instil anxiety among the population and tighten their hold on rule.