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In excess of 20 Olympic champions, trainers and other world-class competitors have signed a appeal demanding a stop to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amidst increasing international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of suppression, the powerfully expressed appeal censures the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, thirty, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of backing an opposition group. He has spent 60 months in detention, where he has been mistreated and held in seclusion.

“Sport is designed to inspire optimism, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Competitors

The statement pointed out that the boxer's case was not unique and underscored Iran’s record of sentencing to death competitors for their views, including a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, leader of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Further endorsers to the statement comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the former leader of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and ruin of state assets”. His ruling has been annulled on two occasions but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and groups.

Appeal to UN

The call to stop the athlete's capital punishment comes after a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, signed by over 100 rights specialists and groups, demanding action to avert the sports figure's capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has achieved alarming dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the maximum count since 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been executed so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Analysts say the government have used the capital punishment to quell dissent, generate apprehension among the population and tighten their grip on authority.