🔗 Share this article Elite Athletes Urge on Iran to Prevent Death Sentence of Boxing Star More than 20 Olympic champions, mentors and additional global sports figures have signed a appeal demanding a end to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and trainer, who is facing execution in the nation. Increasing Worldwide Condemnation Amidst growing international outrage over the country's expanding employment of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the strongly worded statement censures the Iranian regime's ruling to uphold the death sentence of the athlete. The athlete, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement. “Sport is meant to encourage hope, togetherness, and courage,” the endorsers stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a warning to any competitor who ventures to express dissent. Pattern of Executing Athletes The statement noted that Vafaei Sani’s case was part of a pattern and underscored the country's record of executing athletes for their convictions, including a national team leader, captain of the football side, and a women's sports leader, leader of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed. Further endorsers to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to earn a prestigious sailing award; the ex- leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament. Detention and Unfair Trial Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned multiple times but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and organizations. Call to International Body The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s execution is subsequent to a earlier statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, endorsed by more than a hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding intervention to avert the athlete’s execution. Death Penalty Surge According to data, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has achieved alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% increase on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the maximum count since 2015. More than eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025. Political prisoners and opponents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have used the capital punishment to suppress opposition, generate anxiety among the population and tighten their grip on power.