🔗 Share this article Olympians Urge on Iranian Authorities to Prevent Execution of Boxing Champion In excess of two dozen Olympic medal winners, mentors and other world-class competitors have put their names to a appeal demanding a stop to the execution of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country. Escalating Worldwide Condemnation Amidst growing international outrage over the country's expanding employment of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded appeal condemns the government's verdict to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete. The athlete, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of supporting an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in detention, where he has been mistreated and confined in seclusion. “Athletics is meant to inspire optimism, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to every athlete who ventures to voice opinions. Pattern of Putting to Death Sports Figures The appeal noted that the athlete's case was not unique and highlighted the nation's record of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, including Habib Khabiri, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year national competitor, was put to death. Further endorsers to the statement include a sailing champion, who skippered the inaugural all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to earn a renowned yachting trophy; the former skipper of the Australian football team an athlete; 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 comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and damage of public property”. His ruling has been annulled multiple times but on October 4 it was maintained on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and groups. Call to United Nations The appeal to prevent Vafaei Sani’s death sentence is subsequent to a 2023 statement to the global human rights chief for human rights, signed by more than 100 rights specialists and groups, calling for action to stop the athlete’s death. Execution Crisis As per reports, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In the year 2023, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the highest number since 2015. More than eight hundred people have been put to death so far in the current year. Political prisoners and opponents are targets, notably in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Analysts say the government have utilized the executions to quell opposition, instil anxiety among the public and tighten their control on rule.