🔗 Share this article Olympians Appeal on Iran to Halt Execution of Boxing Champion More than two dozen Olympic champions, mentors and other global sports figures have signed a statement urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in the country. Increasing Worldwide Condemnation Amid rising international outrage over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the forcefully phrased statement censures the Iranian regime's ruling to maintain the capital punishment of the boxing champion. Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and charged of supporting an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in detention, where he has been abused and confined in isolation. “Competition is designed to inspire faith, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories expressed. “The execution of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out. Record of Executing Competitors The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s case was not an isolated one and underscored the country's history of putting to death competitors for their views, including Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year national sports titleholder, was also executed. Other signatories to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the international competition. Apprehension and Unfair Trial The athlete was taken into custody in March 2020. The accusations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His trial was denounced as “highly unjust” by advocates and bodies. Call to UN The urging to halt the boxer's death sentence is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by in excess of a hundred advocates and organizations, calling for action to stop the sports figure's execution. Execution Crisis According to findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached alarming levels”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on the previous year. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the highest number since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025. Activists and protesters are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 protests. Specialists say the government have used the death penalty to stifle dissent, instil apprehension among the population and reinforce their control on authority.