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More than two dozen Olympic champions, trainers and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a letter calling for a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is facing execution in the country.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst growing worldwide anger over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a instrument of oppression, the forcefully phrased statement censures the authorities's decision to confirm the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in north-east Iran, was detained for participating in national uprisings in 2019 and charged of supporting an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in detention, where he has been tortured and kept in solitary confinement.

“Sport is designed to inspire optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the endorsers stated. “The death penalty of a champion for his political views is a direct assault on these ideals and a warning to every athlete who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The statement noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's history of sentencing to death sports champions for their convictions, for example Habib Khabiri, captain of the football side, and a women's sports leader, leader of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, was put to death.

Other supporters to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the previous leader of the soccer side an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been reversed on two occasions but on October 4 it was maintained on the third occasion. His court case was denounced as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and groups.

Urging to United Nations

The call to stop Vafaei Sani’s execution is subsequent to a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, backed by over one hundred rights specialists and groups, urging action to prevent the athlete’s execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has achieved shocking proportions”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half surge on 2022. The year before, data showed nearly a thousand deaths, representing the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. More than eight hundred people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Dissidents and dissidents are targets, notably in the wake of the 2022's protests. Experts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to suppress opposition, instil apprehension among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on authority.