🔗 Share this article

Over 20 Olympic medal winners, mentors and further world-class competitors have endorsed a statement urging a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst increasing worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a instrument of repression, the forcefully phrased letter denounces the Iranian regime's ruling to uphold the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

The boxer, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was detained for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an opposition group. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.

“Sport is meant to promote optimism, unity, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a champion for his political views is a direct assault on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who dares to speak out.

History of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The letter pointed out that the boxer's case was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's history of executing sports champions for their views, such as Habib Khabiri, leader of the football side, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, an athlete, a young Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Other signatories to the letter comprise a sailing champion, who captained the first women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to receive a renowned yachting trophy; the former leader of the soccer side an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The charges against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and bodies.

Urging to UN

The call to halt the boxer's capital punishment follows a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, backed by in excess of one hundred rights specialists and organizations, calling for measures to avert the sports figure's execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on data, there is an “execution crisis in Iran, which has attained horrific proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. More than 800 people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Activists and dissidents are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have employed the death penalty to quell opposition, create anxiety among the population and tighten their control on authority.