🔗 Share this article Olympians Call on Iran to Halt Death Sentence of Boxing Star Over twenty Olympic champions, trainers and further global sports figures have signed a statement urging a halt to the execution of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is facing execution in the nation. Increasing International Outrage During increasing global condemnation over Iran’s expanding employment of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the strongly worded letter condemns the authorities's decision to confirm the capital punishment of the boxing champion. The athlete, thirty, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for being involved in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and indicted of aiding an resistance movement. He has spent half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and kept in isolation. “Sport is meant to promote optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to all sportspeople who dares to speak out. History of Putting to Death Athletes The appeal said that the boxer's case was not unique and highlighted the nation's history of sentencing to death athletes for their views, including a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed. Other signatories to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the previous captain of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition. Detention and Unfair Trial Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of government belongings”. His sentence has been overturned on two occasions but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations. Call to International Body The appeal to stop the boxer's capital punishment follows a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for rights, signed by more than 100 human rights experts and entities, calling for action to stop the competitor's execution. Capital Punishment Escalation As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the peak figure since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025. Activists and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have employed the executions to quell protest, generate anxiety among the population and reinforce their hold on power.