Olympians Urge on Iranian Authorities to Stop Death Sentence of Boxing Star

More than two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and other global sports figures have signed a letter demanding a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing International Outrage

Amidst increasing worldwide anger over the country's escalating use of executions as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter denounces the government's ruling to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, thirty, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and accused of backing an resistance movement. He has spent five years in detention, where he has been abused and kept in isolation.

“Competition is meant to encourage optimism, unity, and fortitude,” the endorsers stated. “The execution of a champion for his opinions is a direct assault on these ideals and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The statement pointed out that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and emphasized the nation's record of executing athletes for their views, such as Habib Khabiri, skipper of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Additional supporters to the appeal include a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the ex- skipper of the national squad a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The accusations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of public property”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and bodies.

Appeal to UN

The appeal to prevent the athlete's capital punishment is subsequent to a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, endorsed by over 100 human rights experts and entities, demanding intervention to prevent the competitor's death.

Death Penalty Surge

According to findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has reached shocking levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government sentenced at least 853 people – a 48% increase on the previous year. The year before, statistics showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the regime have employed the death penalty to quell protest, generate anxiety among the population and tighten their control on authority.