Elite Athletes Appeal on Iran to Stop Execution of Boxing Champion
More than 20 Olympic medal winners, trainers and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a statement calling for a end to the execution of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in Iran.
Increasing International Outrage
Amid increasing global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a means of repression, the strongly worded letter denounces the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.
The boxer, 30, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in detention, where he has been mistreated and held in seclusion.
“Competition is meant to promote optimism, solidarity, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who ventures to express dissent.
Pattern of Killing Sports Figures
The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and emphasized Iran’s record of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, including a national team leader, skipper of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.
Additional signatories to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who captained the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious sailing award; the previous leader of the soccer side an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.
Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process
Vafaei Sani was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and ruin of government belongings”. His sentence has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was denounced as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and bodies.
Appeal to UN
The appeal to prevent the athlete's death sentence follows a earlier letter to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by in excess of one hundred rights specialists and entities, urging action to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.
Death Penalty Surge
As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached shocking proportions”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent increase on the previous year. The year before, data showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, representing the highest number since the year 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in the current year.
Dissidents and opponents are victims, particularly in the wake of the 2022's uprising. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have used the capital punishment to stifle protest, create anxiety among the population and tighten their control on rule.
