🔗 Share this article

More than 20 Olympic medallists, coaches and other international athletes have put their names to a letter demanding a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is facing execution in the nation.

Growing International Outrage

Amid increasing international outrage over the nation's escalating use of executions as a tool of suppression, the forcefully phrased statement condemns the authorities's decision to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for participating in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in detention, where he has been mistreated and held in solitary confinement.

“Sport is intended to inspire optimism, togetherness, and courage,” the endorsers expressed. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to every athlete who dares to express dissent.

Record of Putting to Death Athletes

The letter pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and emphasized Iran’s past of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, such as a football captain, captain of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the letter comprise a sailing champion, who led the inaugural female-only team in a international sailing event and was the initial female to earn a renowned yachting trophy; the former leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been reversed twice but on 4 October it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and organizations.

Appeal to UN

The urging to halt Vafaei Sani’s death sentence is subsequent to a 2023 statement to the global human rights chief for rights, endorsed by over one hundred rights specialists and entities, urging action to stop the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

According to data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has reached alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half increase on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the highest number since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Activists and opponents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to suppress opposition, create fear among the citizenry and strengthen their hold on power.