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Over twenty Olympic medallists, trainers and other international athletes have put their names to a letter urging a stop to the execution of a champion boxer and trainer, who is on death row in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

Amidst growing international outrage over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and charged of supporting an dissident organization. He has spent five years in detention, where he has been mistreated and kept in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to encourage optimism, solidarity, and fortitude,” the endorsers expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to all sportspeople who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal pointed out that the athlete's case was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's history of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, such as a football captain, leader of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further supporters to the statement comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the inaugural women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to receive a prestigious sailing award; the ex- captain of the national squad a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been annulled twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies.

Urging to International Body

The urging to halt Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a previous appeal to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by more than one hundred human rights experts and groups, urging action to stop the athlete’s capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has achieved shocking levels”. In the year 2023, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed 972 deaths, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been executed so far in the current year.

Activists and opponents are targets, notably in the wake of the 2022 uprising. Specialists say the government have used the capital punishment to stifle opposition, create anxiety among the public and strengthen their hold on rule.