🔗 Share this article Olympians Call on Iran to Halt Execution of Boxing Star More than two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a letter urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country. Escalating International Outrage Amidst growing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a means of repression, the forcefully phrased letter censures the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the athlete. Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and accused of supporting an dissident organization. He has endured five years in detention, where he has been tortured and held in solitary confinement. “Sport is designed to inspire optimism, unity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these values and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to express dissent. History of Executing Sports Figures The letter said that the boxer's situation was not an isolated one and highlighted the country's record of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, including a football captain, captain of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed. Additional endorsers to the appeal include a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the ex- skipper of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup. Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings Vafaei Sani was arrested in early 2020. The accusations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was condemned as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and bodies. Call to United Nations The call to prevent the athlete's capital punishment is subsequent to a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, signed by over a hundred advocates and entities, urging measures to prevent the competitor's death. Execution Crisis Based on reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has attained horrific proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials executed at least over 850 people – a 48% increase on 2022. In the prior period, statistics showed nearly a thousand deaths, marking the peak figure since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025. Activists and protesters are targets, especially in the wake of the 2022 uprising. Experts say the regime have used the death penalty to quell protest, instil apprehension among the population and reinforce their hold on power.