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More than 20 Olympic medal winners, trainers and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing champion and trainer, who is facing execution in the nation.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

During growing international outrage over the nation's increasing application of executions as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed letter denounces the authorities's ruling to uphold the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and indicted of supporting an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and confined in seclusion.

“Competition is designed to encourage optimism, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters expressed. “The execution of a winner for his beliefs is a direct assault on these principles and a warning to every athlete who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Sports Figures

The statement pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and highlighted the nation's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, such as a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a young national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Other signatories to the statement comprise a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the ex- leader of the national squad an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and damage of public property”. His ruling has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was maintained on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Urging to UN

The appeal to halt the boxer's execution is subsequent to a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by in excess of one hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding measures to stop the sports figure's capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

As per findings, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the maximum count since 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and opponents are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Analysts say the regime have used the capital punishment to suppress protest, generate anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their grip on power.