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In excess of two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and additional international athletes have signed a statement urging a halt to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and coach, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

Amid growing global condemnation over the nation's expanding employment of capital punishment as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded letter denounces the Iranian regime's decision to maintain the execution order of the athlete.

The boxer, thirty, from the city in north-east Iran, was detained for being involved in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and charged of aiding an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and held in isolation.

“Sport is designed to promote faith, unity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a winner for his political views is a direct assault on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to speak out.

History of Killing Competitors

The letter noted that the boxer's situation was not unique and emphasized the nation's history of sentencing to death competitors for their views, for example Habib Khabiri, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, leader of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Additional signatories to the letter include Tracy Edwards, who led the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the former captain of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of public property”. His ruling has been overturned twice but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and organizations.

Urging to UN

The appeal to stop the boxer's capital punishment comes after a 2023 statement to the United Nations official for rights, backed by in excess of one hundred human rights experts and groups, demanding action to stop the sports figure's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

As per data, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on 2022. Last year, records showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Dissidents and dissidents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 protests. Experts say the regime have employed the capital punishment to stifle opposition, instil anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their grip on power.