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More than 20 Olympic champions, trainers and further global sports figures have put their names to a statement calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and coach, who is facing execution in the nation.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst increasing international outrage over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a means of repression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the government's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of supporting an opposition group. He has spent half a decade in incarceration, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Sport is designed to encourage hope, unity, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The death penalty of a winner for his opinions is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who dares to express dissent.

Pattern of Executing Athletes

The appeal said that the boxer's situation was not an isolated one and emphasized the country's record of executing competitors for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old national wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Additional supporters to the letter consist of a yachting pioneer, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a prestigious sailing award; the previous skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was detained in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and ruin of state assets”. His sentence has been annulled on two occasions but on October 4 it was confirmed on the latest review. His legal proceedings was condemned as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Urging to United Nations

The call to prevent the boxer's execution is subsequent to a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for rights, backed by in excess of a hundred advocates and organizations, calling for action to stop the athlete’s capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved alarming proportions”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent increase on 2022. In the prior period, records showed 972 executions, representing the peak figure since 2015. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and dissidents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the government have used the executions to stifle dissent, generate fear among the public and tighten their control on power.