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In excess of twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and other international athletes have signed a letter calling for a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amid growing worldwide anger over the country's expanding employment of executions as a tool of repression, the powerfully expressed appeal condemns the authorities's verdict to uphold the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has spent half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.

“Competition is intended to promote hope, togetherness, and fortitude,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these values and a caution to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The appeal pointed out that the athlete's case was not unique and emphasized the country's history of putting to death athletes for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, skipper of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further supporters to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the initial female to receive a prestigious nautical honor; the ex- skipper of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His ruling has been annulled on two occasions but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Call to UN

The urging to prevent Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a 2023 letter to the United Nations official for rights, signed by over one hundred advocates and groups, urging action to stop the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In 2023, authorities executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the peak figure since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 protests. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the executions to suppress protest, create anxiety among the public and strengthen their control on rule.