🔗 Share this article Sports Champions Call on Iran to Halt Execution of Boxing Champion Over twenty Olympic medal winners, mentors and other international athletes have endorsed a letter urging a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and trainer, who is sentenced to die in Iran. Escalating International Outrage Amidst rising international outrage over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a instrument of repression, the powerfully expressed statement censures the authorities's decision to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion. The boxer, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was detained for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been tortured and held in seclusion. “Competition is intended to encourage faith, unity, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The execution of a champion for his beliefs is a direct assault on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who ventures to speak out. Record of Putting to Death Sports Figures The letter pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s case was part of a pattern and highlighted Iran’s past of executing competitors for their views, such as a national team leader, leader of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was also executed. Additional signatories to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to receive a renowned yachting trophy; the previous leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition. Arrest and Unjust Proceedings The athlete was arrested in early 2020. The charges against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of government belongings”. His verdict has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was upheld on the latest review. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and organizations. Appeal to International Body The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over 100 human rights experts and entities, demanding intervention to prevent the sports figure's capital punishment. Capital Punishment Escalation As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has attained alarming levels”. In the year 2023, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the peak figure since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in the current year. Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, particularly in the wake of the 2022 uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have used the capital punishment to quell opposition, generate fear among the population and reinforce their hold on authority.