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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, trainers and other international athletes have signed a appeal calling for a end to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and instructor, who is on death row in Iran.

Increasing International Outrage

During growing global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a instrument of oppression, the powerfully expressed letter denounces the government's verdict to maintain the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, thirty, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of supporting an opposition group. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and held in isolation.

“Competition is designed to inspire optimism, solidarity, and fortitude,” the supporters stated. “The execution of a winner for his opinions is a clear violation on these values and a warning to any competitor who dares to express dissent.

Record of Executing Athletes

The appeal pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's past of putting to death competitors for their convictions, including a national team leader, captain of the football side, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional endorsers to the appeal include a sailing champion, who captained the first female-only team in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the former skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was detained in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and groups.

Call to United Nations

The appeal to halt the boxer's capital punishment comes after a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, signed by in excess of a hundred advocates and groups, urging action to stop the competitor's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved shocking levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, data showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the maximum count since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Activists and opponents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have used the capital punishment to quell protest, generate fear among the public and tighten their control on rule.