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More than two dozen Olympic champions, trainers and other global sports figures have endorsed a statement urging a halt to the execution of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

Amid rising worldwide anger over Iran’s expanding employment of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the forcefully phrased appeal denounces the government's verdict to maintain the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was detained for participating in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has endured half a decade in detention, where he has been mistreated and kept in seclusion.

“Competition is meant to encourage faith, unity, and bravery,” the supporters wrote. “The capital punishment of a winner for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to express dissent.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The letter pointed out that the athlete's situation was not unique and underscored the country's history of executing athletes for their views, for example Habib Khabiri, leader of the football side, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further supporters to the letter consist of Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a esteemed sailing award; the ex- leader of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The athlete was detained in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been overturned multiple times but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups.

Urging to UN

The appeal to prevent Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a 2023 statement to the United Nations official for freedoms, endorsed by in excess of 100 advocates and groups, demanding measures to stop the athlete’s death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In the year 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. Last year, records showed 972 capital punishments, representing the peak figure since the year 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Dissidents and opponents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the Iranian authorities have employed the capital punishment to stifle opposition, create apprehension among the citizenry and strengthen their hold on rule.