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More than 20 Olympic medallists, mentors and other global sports figures have endorsed a letter calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and trainer, who is on death row in Iran.

Increasing Global Anger

During growing international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded letter denounces the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and charged of aiding an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is designed to encourage faith, togetherness, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The death penalty of a winner for his political views is a direct assault on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who attempts to express dissent.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The appeal pointed out that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and underscored the country's history of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, such as a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other supporters to the appeal include Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering female-only team in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a prestigious sailing award; the former leader of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The athlete was detained in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been overturned twice but on October 4 it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and organizations.

Appeal to International Body

The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment follows a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, backed by in excess of a hundred rights specialists and entities, urging intervention to prevent the athlete’s death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half increase on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the highest number since the year 2015. Over hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners 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 protest, instil apprehension among the public and strengthen their grip on power.