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More than 20 Olympic medal winners, trainers and other world-class competitors have signed a appeal urging a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is facing execution in the nation.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst growing global condemnation over the country's increasing application of executions as a instrument of repression, the strongly worded letter denounces the government's verdict to confirm the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, 30, from Mashhad in the northern province, was detained for participating in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of aiding an resistance movement. He has spent 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and held in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to inspire faith, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a warning to every athlete who attempts to speak out.

History of Executing Athletes

The statement said that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and emphasized the nation's history of putting to death sports champions for their views, including a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Additional signatories to the appeal consist of a yachting pioneer, who led the pioneering female-only team in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a prestigious sailing award; the previous skipper of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The athlete was taken into custody in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the latest review. His court case was condemned as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Urging to International Body

The call to stop Vafaei Sani’s execution is subsequent to a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, backed by in excess of one hundred human rights experts and groups, urging measures to avert the athlete’s execution.

Death Penalty Surge

As per data, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached shocking levels”. In the year 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on the previous year. In the prior period, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the highest number since the year 2015. In excess of 800 people have been executed so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and opponents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Specialists say the regime have used the executions to suppress opposition, generate fear among the population and tighten their hold on power.