🔗 Share this article Sports Champions Call on Iran to Prevent Execution of Boxing Champion In excess of two dozen Olympic medallists, coaches and other world-class competitors have signed a statement urging a stop to the death penalty of a champion boxer and coach, who is on death row in Iran. Increasing Worldwide Condemnation Amidst rising global condemnation over the nation's escalating use of executions as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed appeal condemns the government's ruling to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion. The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been mistreated and confined in isolation. “Competition is intended to promote optimism, solidarity, and fortitude,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a direct assault on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who dares to express dissent. Record of Executing Competitors The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and underscored the country's record of executing competitors for their convictions, such as a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty. Further endorsers to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who captained the first female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the previous captain of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition. Arrest and Unfair Trial The athlete was detained in March 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations. Call to UN The call to prevent the athlete's death sentence is subsequent to a previous appeal to the global human rights chief for rights, endorsed by in excess of 100 advocates and entities, urging intervention to prevent the competitor's capital punishment. Execution Crisis Based on findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has attained alarming proportions”. In the year 2023, officials sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on 2022. The year before, statistics showed 972 capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. In excess of eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025. Dissidents and opponents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to quell dissent, generate anxiety among the population and reinforce their control on power.