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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, mentors and further international athletes have put their names to a statement urging a halt to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is on death row in the nation.

Escalating International Outrage

During increasing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a instrument of repression, the forcefully phrased letter denounces the government's ruling to uphold the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

The boxer, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has spent five years in detention, where he has been tortured and kept in solitary confinement.

“Sport is intended to inspire hope, togetherness, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who dares to speak out.

Record of Killing Athletes

The appeal noted that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their convictions, for example a national team leader, skipper of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further endorsers to the statement consist of a sailing champion, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the initial female to receive a prestigious sailing award; the former leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The charges against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been reversed on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to United Nations

The urging to prevent the athlete's death sentence comes after a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, signed by in excess of a hundred rights specialists and entities, demanding action to prevent the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

According to findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government sentenced at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. Last year, data showed 972 deaths, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. Over eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Dissidents and opponents are focus, particularly in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the regime have used the executions to suppress protest, generate apprehension among the population and tighten their grip on authority.