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More than twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and other global sports figures have signed a appeal urging a halt to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and trainer, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing International Outrage

During increasing global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the powerfully expressed appeal condemns the Iranian regime's ruling to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was detained for being involved in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of backing an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in detention, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.

“Athletics is designed to inspire optimism, togetherness, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these values and a warning to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Executing Competitors

The letter pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was part of a pattern and underscored the nation's record of executing athletes for their beliefs, for example a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the letter comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the first women's squad in a global yacht race and was the initial female to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the former skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was detained in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of public property”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third attempt. His trial was criticized as “highly unjust” by advocates and bodies.

Urging to UN

The call to stop the boxer's execution comes after a previous statement to the United Nations official for rights, signed by more than one hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding measures to prevent the sports figure's execution.

Execution Crisis

As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has reached shocking proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent increase on 2022. Last year, data showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. In excess of 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and opponents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to suppress dissent, instil fear among the public and tighten their control on rule.