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In excess of two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and other world-class competitors have signed a statement calling for a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst growing worldwide anger over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of oppression, the strongly worded statement censures the authorities's verdict to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and charged of aiding an opposition group. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and held in solitary confinement.

“Sport is designed to encourage faith, solidarity, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a winner for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a admonition to every athlete who attempts to express dissent.

Pattern of Killing Competitors

The statement said that the boxer's case was not an isolated one and emphasized the country's past of sentencing to death competitors for their views, such as Habib Khabiri, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a young national sports titleholder, was put to death.

Additional endorsers to the letter include a sailing champion, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a prestigious sailing award; the former leader of the national squad Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The boxer was taken into custody in early 2020. The charges against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and organizations.

Call to UN

The appeal to halt the boxer's capital punishment comes after a previous letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, backed by more than one hundred rights specialists and groups, calling for measures to avert the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved shocking levels”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed 972 deaths, marking the highest number since the year 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been executed so far in the current year.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the regime have utilized the death penalty to stifle protest, instil anxiety among the public and tighten their grip on authority.