Olympians Appeal on Iranian Authorities to Prevent Death Sentence of Champion Boxer
More than 20 Olympic medal winners, coaches and other international athletes have endorsed a statement urging a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.
Growing Worldwide Condemnation
Amidst increasing worldwide anger over the country's escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of repression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the authorities's decision to maintain the execution order of the athlete.
The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for participating in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an opposition group. He has spent half a decade in detention, where he has been mistreated and held in isolation.
“Competition is designed to inspire hope, unity, and courage,” the endorsers expressed. “The execution of a winner for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to express dissent.
Record of Killing Athletes
The appeal noted that the athlete's situation was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's record of putting to death competitors for their beliefs, including a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a young national wrestling champion, was also executed.
Other supporters to the letter comprise a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to receive a renowned sailing award; the ex- skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.
Arrest and Unfair Trial
The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was condemned as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and organizations.
Urging to United Nations
The call to halt the athlete's capital punishment comes after a previous letter to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, endorsed by in excess of 100 advocates and organizations, demanding measures to stop the athlete’s execution.
Capital Punishment Escalation
Based on data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has attained alarming proportions”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least 853 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the highest number since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.
Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Analysts say the regime have used the capital punishment to quell opposition, instil fear among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on power.
