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More than twenty Olympic medallists, mentors and other world-class competitors have endorsed a statement demanding a halt to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

During rising worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a means of oppression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the authorities's decision to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of aiding an resistance movement. He has passed half a decade in incarceration, where he has been tortured and kept in isolation.

“Sport is designed to inspire faith, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his political views is a direct assault on these principles and a warning to any competitor who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Athletes

The letter said that the athlete's situation was not an isolated one and emphasized the country's past of executing sports champions for their beliefs, including a football captain, leader of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national competitor, was put to death.

Further endorsers to the letter include a yachting pioneer, who captained the pioneering female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a esteemed sailing award; the ex- captain of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and damage of public property”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His trial was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and organizations.

Urging to International Body

The call to halt the athlete's execution is subsequent to a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for rights, backed by more than 100 rights specialists and entities, urging measures to avert the competitor's death.

Execution Crisis

According to findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half surge on 2022. The year before, records showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. In excess of eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Specialists say the government have used the capital punishment to suppress dissent, instil anxiety among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on authority.