🔗 Share this article

More than twenty Olympic medallists, trainers and additional global sports figures have endorsed a letter demanding a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

During increasing worldwide anger over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a means of repression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has spent 60 months in incarceration, where he has been abused and held in seclusion.

“Athletics is designed to inspire hope, unity, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The death penalty of a winner for his political views is a blatant attack on these values and a caution to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal said that the boxer's circumstances was part of a pattern and underscored the country's history of executing competitors for their convictions, including a football captain, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year national competitor, was put to death.

Other endorsers to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to earn a renowned yachting trophy; the previous captain of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of state assets”. His verdict has been annulled twice but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “deeply biased” by rights defenders and bodies.

Urging to UN

The call to prevent the boxer's execution comes after a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, endorsed by in excess of one hundred advocates and groups, calling for action to avert the competitor's death.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “execution crisis in Iran, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on the previous year. The year before, data showed 972 deaths, representing the highest number since 2015. Over 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are targets, especially in the wake of the 2022's protests. Experts say the Iranian authorities have employed the executions to suppress protest, create fear among the public and strengthen their control on rule.