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Over 20 Olympic champions, mentors and further world-class competitors have put their names to a letter calling for a halt to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and instructor, who is facing execution in the nation.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

Amid increasing global condemnation over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a tool of oppression, the forcefully phrased letter censures the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of the athlete.

The athlete, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and charged of supporting an dissident organization. He has endured five years in detention, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is designed to encourage hope, unity, and fortitude,” the supporters expressed. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to all sportspeople who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The appeal noted that the athlete's circumstances was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's record of putting to death competitors for their views, including Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the female volleyball side. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year national competitor, was put to death.

Other supporters to the appeal include a sailing champion, who led the inaugural female-only team in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the previous leader of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and ruin of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled twice but on 4 October it was maintained on the third occasion. His court case was denounced as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and bodies.

Appeal to UN

The urging to stop the athlete's execution is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, signed by over a hundred human rights experts and organizations, urging action to avert the sports figure's capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has attained alarming levels”. In 2023, authorities executed at least 853 people – a nearly half surge on the previous year. Last year, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. More than hundreds of people have been put to death so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and opponents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to stifle protest, generate fear among the population and strengthen their grip on rule.