🔗 Share this article

More than twenty Olympic champions, coaches and additional global sports figures have signed a appeal urging a end to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amid rising global condemnation over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of oppression, the strongly worded statement denounces the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the execution order of the boxing champion.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was detained for participating in national uprisings in 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has spent 60 months in detention, where he has been tortured and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is intended to inspire hope, solidarity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a winner for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who ventures to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The appeal said that the boxer's circumstances was part of a pattern and highlighted the nation's record of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, for example a national team leader, skipper of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old national competitor, was put to death.

Additional signatories to the letter comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the first all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the initial female to receive a prestigious nautical honor; the former leader of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third occasion. His trial was condemned as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and bodies.

Call to United Nations

The urging to stop the boxer's death sentence comes after a 2023 statement to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by more than 100 rights specialists and organizations, demanding action to stop the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached shocking levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials put to death at least 853 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. Last year, records showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. More than hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the government have utilized the capital punishment to quell dissent, create apprehension among the citizenry and reinforce their grip on authority.