🔗 Share this article Sports Champions Appeal on Iran to Prevent Death Sentence of Champion Boxer Over twenty Olympic champions, mentors and additional world-class competitors have endorsed a appeal calling for a stop to the death penalty of a champion boxer and coach, who is on death row in Iran. Growing Worldwide Condemnation Amid growing worldwide anger over the country's expanding employment of the death penalty as a instrument of oppression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the government's verdict to maintain the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani. Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in the northern province, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and indicted of aiding an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and held in solitary confinement. “Competition is designed to promote optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these values and a caution to any competitor who ventures to speak out. Pattern of Putting to Death Sports Figures The statement pointed out that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and highlighted Iran’s history of executing athletes for their views, for example a national team leader, skipper of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national wrestling champion, was also executed. Other signatories to the statement include Tracy Edwards, who skippered the inaugural women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a prestigious sailing award; the previous leader of the Australian football team an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition. Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of public property”. His verdict has been reversed multiple times but on October 4 it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies. Appeal to United Nations The appeal to halt Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a earlier statement to the United Nations official for freedoms, backed by in excess of 100 advocates and organizations, calling for measures to avert the athlete’s capital punishment. Capital Punishment Escalation As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials executed at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the maximum count since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025. Activists and protesters are targets, especially in the wake of the 2022 protests. Experts say the government have employed the death penalty to suppress dissent, instil fear among the public and reinforce their hold on authority.