🔗 Share this article Olympians Appeal on Iranian Authorities to Stop Death Sentence of Boxing Champion In excess of twenty Olympic champions, trainers and other world-class competitors have signed a appeal urging a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is facing execution in the country. Growing Global Anger During increasing international outrage over the nation's expanding employment of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the powerfully expressed appeal denounces the government's decision to uphold the capital punishment of the boxing champion. The athlete, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of backing an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation. “Competition is designed to promote faith, unity, and bravery,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a winner for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who ventures to express dissent. Pattern of Killing Competitors The statement pointed out that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and emphasized the nation's past of executing competitors for their views, including Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, leader of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty. Other supporters to the letter comprise a sailing champion, who captained the first women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the ex- leader of the Australian football team an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition. Detention and Flawed Legal Process The boxer was arrested in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was condemned as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and organizations. Call to International Body The appeal to halt the athlete's execution follows a 2023 letter to the UN high commissioner for rights, signed by in excess of one hundred advocates and entities, calling for measures to prevent the sports figure's execution. Death Penalty Surge According to reports, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities executed at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on the previous year. In the prior period, statistics showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the highest number since 2015. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025. Activists and opponents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Analysts say the government have used the death penalty to stifle dissent, instil anxiety among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on power.