🔗 Share this article

More than 20 Olympic medallists, mentors and other world-class competitors have put their names to a statement calling for a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

Amid growing international outrage over the country's increasing application of executions as a tool of oppression, the forcefully phrased appeal censures the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the execution order of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in detention, where he has been tortured and confined in seclusion.

“Athletics is designed to promote optimism, unity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to every athlete who attempts to express dissent.

History of Killing Competitors

The statement noted that the boxer's circumstances was not an isolated one and emphasized Iran’s past of executing competitors for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, an athlete, a young Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who captained the first all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the initial female to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the former captain of the Australian football team an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and groups.

Urging to International Body

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution is subsequent to a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for freedoms, endorsed by over a hundred rights specialists and entities, demanding measures to avert the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved shocking levels”. In 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent surge on the previous year. The year before, records showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the highest number since two thousand fifteen. In excess of 800 people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Specialists say the regime have used the death penalty to stifle protest, instil fear among the public and strengthen their control on rule.