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In excess of two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and further world-class competitors have endorsed a letter urging a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is on death row in the country.

Escalating Global Anger

Amidst rising international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a instrument of suppression, the strongly worded letter condemns the government's verdict to maintain the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in the northern province, was detained for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of backing an dissident organization. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been tortured and kept in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is intended to promote optimism, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to all sportspeople who attempts to express dissent.

Record of Executing Sports Figures

The statement said that the boxer's case was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's past of executing sports champions for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, skipper of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the statement consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was detained in March 2020. The accusations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and ruin of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and groups.

Call to United Nations

The call to prevent the athlete's execution follows a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, endorsed by more than 100 advocates and organizations, urging intervention to prevent the competitor's execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained shocking levels”. In the year 2023, officials put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent rise on the previous year. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the peak figure since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Analysts say the regime have used the executions to quell protest, generate fear among the citizenry and tighten their grip on power.