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Over two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and other international athletes have endorsed a letter demanding a stop to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating Global Anger

Amid growing worldwide anger over Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the strongly worded letter condemns the government's decision to uphold the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for participating in national uprisings in 2019 and accused of backing an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and held in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to encourage optimism, solidarity, and courage,” the supporters expressed. “The execution of a winner for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a caution to every athlete who dares to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was part of a pattern and highlighted the nation's history of executing sports champions for their convictions, such as Habib Khabiri, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the female volleyball side. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other signatories to the letter comprise a sailing champion, who skippered the pioneering all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious yachting trophy; the former skipper of the Australian football team an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His sentence has been reversed twice but on October 4 it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and groups.

Urging to UN

The call to stop the boxer's death sentence follows a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for freedoms, endorsed by over one hundred rights specialists and entities, urging intervention to avert the competitor's execution.

Execution Crisis

As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained horrific levels”. In the year 2023, officials put to death at least 853 people – a 48% increase on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the peak figure since the year 2015. In excess of 800 people have been sentenced so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the government have utilized the capital punishment to suppress opposition, generate apprehension among the public and reinforce their grip on authority.