🔗 Share this article Elite Athletes Call on Iranian Authorities to Stop Death Sentence of Boxing Champion Over 20 Olympic medallists, trainers and other international athletes have put their names to a letter demanding a stop to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and coach, who is on death row in Iran. Increasing Global Anger During increasing global condemnation over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a instrument of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter condemns the government's ruling to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete. Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has spent five years in detention, where he has been mistreated and confined in isolation. “Sport is intended to encourage optimism, unity, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these values and a caution to all sportspeople who ventures to speak out. History of Killing Sports Figures The appeal noted that the boxer's case was not unique and underscored Iran’s past of putting to death competitors for their convictions, including a football captain, captain of the football side, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national wrestling champion, was also executed. Additional supporters to the letter consist of a yachting pioneer, who led the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned nautical honor; the ex- leader of the soccer side an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the international competition. Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process The athlete was taken into custody in early 2020. The accusations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups. Urging to UN The call to stop the athlete's capital punishment is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, endorsed by over one hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding measures to prevent the competitor's death. Capital Punishment Escalation As per reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In 2023, officials put to death at least 853 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. Last year, data showed 972 executions, marking the peak figure since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year. Dissidents and protesters are focus, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to suppress dissent, generate anxiety among the public and tighten their hold on authority.