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In excess of two dozen Olympic medal winners, trainers and other international athletes have put their names to a statement calling for a stop to the execution of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amid growing global condemnation over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a instrument of oppression, the forcefully phrased statement denounces the authorities's verdict to uphold the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in detention, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Sport is designed to promote optimism, togetherness, and fortitude,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to every athlete who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The statement said that the boxer's situation was part of a pattern and highlighted the nation's past of putting to death sports champions for their views, such as Habib Khabiri, leader of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Further supporters to the appeal include Tracy Edwards, who captained the first female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a renowned yachting trophy; the ex- leader of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The athlete was arrested in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and groups.

Urging to International Body

The urging to prevent the athlete's death sentence follows a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, endorsed by over 100 advocates and organizations, demanding measures to stop the sports figure's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials put to death at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. In the prior period, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the peak figure since the year 2015. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Activists and protesters are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Experts say the Iranian authorities have employed the capital punishment to quell protest, instil apprehension among the population and strengthen their grip on power.