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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, mentors and other international athletes have put their names to a letter calling for a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amid increasing global condemnation over the nation's expanding employment of executions as a tool of repression, the strongly worded appeal censures the government's decision to uphold the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of backing an resistance movement. He has spent 60 months in detention, where he has been tortured and kept in solitary confinement.

“Sport is intended to promote hope, togetherness, and bravery,” the endorsers wrote. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a direct assault on these principles and a caution to any competitor who attempts to speak out.

Record of Killing Sports Figures

The appeal pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and underscored Iran’s record of putting to death competitors for their views, such as a national team leader, skipper of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Further endorsers to the statement comprise a sailing champion, who led the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the initial female to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the ex- skipper of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The athlete was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of government belongings”. His verdict has been overturned multiple times but on October 4 it was maintained on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to UN

The call to halt the boxer's death sentence comes after a earlier statement to the United Nations official for rights, signed by over a hundred rights specialists and organizations, urging measures to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

According to findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities executed at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. Last year, data showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. In excess of eight hundred people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Dissidents and protesters are victims, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the executions to suppress dissent, generate apprehension among the public and tighten their hold on authority.