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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, coaches and other global sports figures have signed a statement urging a end to the execution of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Escalating Global Anger

During growing international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed statement denounces the government's decision to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, three decades old, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and charged of supporting an resistance movement. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been mistreated and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is intended to inspire faith, solidarity, and fortitude,” the endorsers stated. “The execution of a winner for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out.

History of Killing Competitors

The appeal noted that the boxer's situation was not unique and highlighted the country's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, such as a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the initial female to be awarded a esteemed nautical honor; the previous leader of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The charges against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of public property”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His trial was denounced as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and bodies.

Appeal to UN

The urging to stop the boxer's capital punishment is subsequent to a earlier statement to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by in excess of a hundred human rights experts and groups, calling for measures to stop the athlete’s capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

According to findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached horrific dimensions”. In 2023, officials put to death at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. The year before, records showed 972 executions, representing 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, especially in the wake of the 2022's protests. Experts say the government have utilized the death penalty to quell opposition, create fear among the public and strengthen their hold on authority.