🔗 Share this article Olympians Call on Iranian Authorities to Stop Death Sentence of Boxing Star In excess of twenty Olympic medal winners, mentors and other world-class competitors have endorsed a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran. Increasing International Outrage During growing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of the death penalty as a tool of oppression, the forcefully phrased statement denounces the government's verdict to confirm the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani. Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for taking part in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and accused of backing an resistance movement. He has passed half a decade in detention, where he has been mistreated and confined in seclusion. “Sport is designed to promote optimism, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The death penalty of a champion for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a caution to every athlete who dares to express dissent. History of Killing Sports Figures The statement said that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and highlighted the nation's past of putting to death competitors for their convictions, for example a football captain, captain of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty. Additional supporters to the appeal include a yachting pioneer, who skippered the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to be awarded a prestigious sailing award; the former skipper of the soccer side an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition. Detention and Flawed Legal Process The boxer was detained in early 2020. The accusations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of public property”. His sentence has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups. Appeal to International Body The appeal to halt the athlete's execution is subsequent to a previous appeal to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by more than a hundred advocates and organizations, calling for action to prevent the athlete’s execution. Death Penalty Surge According to data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In the year 2023, officials put to death at least 853 people – a 48% surge on 2022. In the prior period, statistics showed 972 capital punishments, constituting the maximum count since 2015. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025. Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, particularly in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the regime have used the capital punishment to quell dissent, instil anxiety among the public and strengthen their hold on rule.