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In excess of twenty Olympic medal winners, mentors and other global sports figures have signed a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing champion and coach, who is facing execution in Iran.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst growing worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of the death penalty as a tool of suppression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of aiding an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and held in seclusion.

“Competition is intended to promote hope, solidarity, and courage,” the signatories expressed. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to every athlete who attempts to express dissent.

History of Killing Competitors

The letter noted that the athlete's case was not unique and emphasized the country's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their beliefs, including a football captain, captain of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, was also executed.

Additional signatories to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a prestigious sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through arson and ruin of government belongings”. His verdict has been reversed twice but on 4 October it was upheld on the latest review. His court case was condemned as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and groups.

Urging to UN

The urging to stop the athlete's execution is subsequent to a previous statement to the United Nations official for freedoms, backed by in excess of a hundred human rights experts and groups, calling for action to stop the sports figure's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In 2023, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent increase on 2022. Last year, data showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the highest number since two thousand fifteen. In excess of hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and opponents are focus, especially in the wake of the 2022's uprising. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the executions to stifle dissent, create apprehension among the citizenry and tighten their hold on rule.