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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, coaches and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a statement demanding a end to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amid growing global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment as a means of oppression, the powerfully expressed appeal censures the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of aiding an resistance movement. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been mistreated and confined in isolation.

“Competition is designed to promote faith, solidarity, and courage,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a caution to every athlete who ventures to voice opinions.

Record of Executing Athletes

The statement noted that the boxer's situation was part of a pattern and underscored the country's past of putting to death sports champions for their views, for example a national team leader, skipper of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a young national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other supporters to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to earn a esteemed sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been reversed multiple times but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Appeal to UN

The appeal to prevent the boxer's capital punishment comes after a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by over 100 advocates and organizations, calling for action to prevent the competitor's execution.

Execution Crisis

According to findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has attained shocking proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government sentenced at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent rise on the previous year. The year before, data showed 972 executions, representing the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. In excess of eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, notably in the wake of the 2022's protests. Experts say the Iranian authorities have used the executions to stifle dissent, create fear among the population and tighten their hold on power.