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Over two dozen 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 on death row in Iran.

Increasing Global Anger

Amid increasing worldwide anger over Iran’s expanding employment of the death penalty as a instrument of repression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the authorities's verdict to confirm the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in detention, where he has been mistreated and held in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is designed to encourage faith, unity, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The letter pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and underscored Iran’s history of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, for example Habib Khabiri, leader of the football side, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the appeal consist of Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious nautical honor; the former captain of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The accusations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and groups.

Call to International Body

The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s execution follows a previous statement to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by over one hundred rights specialists and groups, demanding measures to avert the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

According to reports, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half surge on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the highest number since 2015. In excess of 800 people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Activists and opponents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Analysts say the government have employed the executions to quell protest, instil anxiety among the public and reinforce their control on authority.