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In excess of twenty Olympic medallists, trainers and additional world-class competitors have signed a letter calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Growing Global Anger

Amid growing international outrage over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded letter censures the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was detained for being involved in national uprisings in 2019 and accused of aiding an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in prison, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Competition is meant to inspire hope, togetherness, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his opinions is a blatant attack on these principles and a caution to every athlete who dares to speak out.

Pattern of Executing Competitors

The letter pointed out that the athlete's situation was not unique and emphasized Iran’s record of putting to death competitors for their beliefs, including a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian competitor, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the appeal consist of Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious nautical honor; the former skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The charges against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His sentence has been annulled multiple times but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Appeal to United Nations

The appeal to prevent the boxer's death sentence follows a previous appeal to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by more than a hundred human rights experts and groups, demanding action to stop the competitor's death.

Death Penalty Surge

According to data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has reached shocking proportions”. In the year 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the highest number since two thousand fifteen. Over eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Dissidents and opponents are targets, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the government have utilized the executions to quell dissent, generate fear among the citizenry and tighten their hold on rule.