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Over twenty Olympic champions, mentors and other world-class competitors have put their names to a appeal urging a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Escalating Global Anger

Amidst growing global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a means of repression, the strongly worded statement denounces the authorities's verdict to confirm the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, 30, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for being involved in national uprisings in 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been tortured and held in solitary confinement.

“Competition is intended to encourage faith, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The death penalty of a winner for his opinions is a blatant attack on these values and a admonition to every athlete who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The statement said that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and emphasized the country's record of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, for example a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national competitor, faced the death penalty.

Other signatories to the letter include a yachting pioneer, who led the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to be awarded a prestigious nautical honor; the ex- captain of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of state assets”. His verdict has been reversed on two occasions but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Call to International Body

The appeal to stop Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a previous statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, signed by more than one hundred advocates and entities, urging measures to stop the competitor's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per reports, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has attained horrific dimensions”. In 2023, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent rise on the previous year. In the prior period, data showed 972 deaths, marking the highest number since 2015. Over eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Activists and protesters are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the government have utilized the capital punishment to stifle opposition, generate fear among the public and reinforce their hold on authority.