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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and other global sports figures have signed a appeal urging a stop to the execution of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is facing execution in the nation.

Escalating Global Anger

Amidst rising international outrage over the nation's escalating use of executions as a tool of suppression, the powerfully expressed appeal denounces the government's verdict to confirm the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and charged of supporting an dissident organization. He has passed half a decade in incarceration, where he has been abused and kept in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is designed to promote hope, solidarity, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who ventures to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The appeal said that Vafaei Sani’s situation was part of a pattern and underscored Iran’s record of executing competitors for their views, including a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national competitor, faced the death penalty.

Further endorsers to the letter consist of a yachting pioneer, who led the pioneering female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the former leader of the national squad an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was taken into custody in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed multiple times but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Urging to UN

The urging to stop the boxer's capital punishment is subsequent to a previous statement to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by in excess of a hundred human rights experts and entities, calling for measures to stop the competitor's death.

Death Penalty Surge

As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained horrific levels”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed 972 deaths, marking the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. Over eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the government have employed the capital punishment to stifle opposition, create fear among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on power.