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In excess of twenty Olympic medallists, mentors and other international athletes have put their names to a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the nation.

Escalating Global Anger

During rising international outrage over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a instrument of suppression, the strongly worded appeal condemns the government's verdict to uphold the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and accused of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in incarceration, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Sport is designed to inspire optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Athletes

The appeal said that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and emphasized the country's past of sentencing to death athletes for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, skipper of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, an athlete, a young Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Other signatories to the statement include a sailing champion, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the former leader of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and groups.

Call to International Body

The appeal to stop the boxer's execution follows a previous letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, signed by in excess of 100 advocates and entities, calling for measures to prevent the competitor's execution.

Execution Crisis

As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved horrific levels”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least 853 people – a 48% increase on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Experts say the Iranian authorities have used the executions to quell opposition, create apprehension among the public and reinforce their control on power.