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More than twenty Olympic medal winners, mentors and additional international athletes have put their names to a statement calling for a end to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the nation.

Escalating Global Anger

During growing global condemnation over the country's increasing application of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the strongly worded letter denounces the authorities's verdict to confirm the execution order of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for being involved in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been tortured and kept in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is meant to promote optimism, unity, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a champion for his beliefs is a direct assault on these principles and a warning to every athlete who dares to voice opinions.

History of Executing Athletes

The statement noted that Vafaei Sani’s case was not unique and emphasized the country's record of executing athletes for their beliefs, including a national team leader, leader of the football side, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further supporters to the appeal comprise a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned nautical honor; the ex- skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was detained in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Call to International Body

The call to prevent the boxer's death sentence comes after a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, backed by in excess of one hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding action to stop the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached alarming proportions”. In the year 2023, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed 972 capital punishments, marking the peak figure since the year 2015. More than 800 people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Activists and dissidents are victims, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Analysts say the government have utilized the death penalty to quell dissent, create apprehension among the population and strengthen their hold on power.