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Over twenty Olympic champions, coaches and other world-class competitors have signed a appeal urging a halt to the death penalty of a boxing champion and coach, who is facing execution in the nation.

Escalating Global Anger

During growing worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of the death penalty as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed letter denounces the authorities's decision to uphold the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for participating in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in detention, where he has been mistreated and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is designed to promote optimism, togetherness, and fortitude,” the supporters expressed. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent.

Pattern of Executing Competitors

The letter noted that the boxer's circumstances was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's record of putting to death athletes for their convictions, including a national team leader, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a young national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further signatories to the statement consist of a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to earn a esteemed nautical honor; the ex- leader of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been overturned on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and bodies.

Appeal to International Body

The appeal to halt the athlete's execution comes after a 2023 appeal to the global human rights chief for freedoms, backed by more than one hundred rights specialists and entities, demanding action to stop the sports figure's capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least 853 people – a 48% surge on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. More than hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and opponents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Experts say the regime have utilized the executions to suppress protest, instil anxiety among the population and reinforce their grip on rule.