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Over two dozen Olympic champions, mentors and additional world-class competitors have endorsed a letter calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing International Outrage

Amidst growing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a means of oppression, the strongly worded statement condemns the authorities's ruling to uphold the execution order of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for participating in national uprisings in the year 2019 and accused of supporting an dissident organization. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in seclusion.

“Athletics is intended to promote faith, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

Pattern of Putting to Death Athletes

The letter pointed out that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and highlighted the nation's past of sentencing to death athletes for their views, such as Habib Khabiri, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national competitor, was put to death.

Additional signatories to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who led the first female-only team in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a prestigious nautical honor; the previous captain of the national squad Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and bodies.

Call to United Nations

The appeal to halt Vafaei Sani’s death sentence is subsequent to a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over a hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding action to avert the sports figure's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached alarming dimensions”. In the year 2023, authorities sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half increase on the previous year. In the prior period, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, constituting the maximum count since 2015. Over eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to suppress opposition, create fear among the population and strengthen their control on power.