🔗 Share this article Sports Champions Urge on Iranian Authorities to Halt Death Sentence of Champion Boxer More than twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and other world-class competitors have endorsed a statement urging a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the nation. Increasing Global Anger During increasing worldwide anger over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a instrument of oppression, the forcefully phrased statement denounces the Iranian regime's ruling to maintain the capital punishment of the boxing champion. The boxer, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for participating in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has passed five years in incarceration, where he has been tortured and confined in seclusion. “Sport is meant to encourage hope, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent. Pattern of Killing Competitors The statement pointed out that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and emphasized the country's past of sentencing to death competitors for their beliefs, for example Habib Khabiri, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national competitor, faced the death penalty. Further signatories to the appeal include a yachting pioneer, who skippered the inaugural all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a renowned sailing award; the previous skipper of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup. Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings The boxer was arrested in the spring of 2020. The charges against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of state assets”. His verdict has been reversed multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His legal proceedings was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups. Appeal to UN The call to stop Vafaei Sani’s death sentence is subsequent to a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, signed by over one hundred rights specialists and organizations, urging action to prevent the competitor's death. Capital Punishment Escalation Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached shocking proportions”. In the year 2023, authorities executed at least 853 people – a nearly half surge on 2022. Last year, data showed nearly a thousand executions, representing the highest number since two thousand fifteen. More than eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025. Dissidents and protesters are victims, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to stifle protest, generate fear among the population and strengthen their grip on rule.