🔗 Share this article

Over twenty Olympic medal winners, coaches and other international athletes have signed a letter demanding a end to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

Amid growing worldwide anger over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment as a instrument of suppression, the powerfully expressed appeal censures the government's decision to uphold the execution order of the athlete.

The boxer, 30, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for participating in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed half a decade in incarceration, where he has been abused and confined in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to inspire optimism, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Executing Sports Figures

The statement noted that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and highlighted Iran’s history of putting to death athletes for their convictions, including a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Additional endorsers to the appeal comprise a sailing champion, who led the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to earn a prestigious sailing award; the previous skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The athlete was detained in early 2020. The allegations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been reversed multiple times but on 4 October it was maintained on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Urging to United Nations

The urging to prevent the athlete's execution comes after a earlier appeal to the global human rights chief for freedoms, signed by in excess of one hundred human rights experts and organizations, demanding measures to avert the competitor's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained alarming proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand executions, marking the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. In excess of 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are victims, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the government have used the executions to quell dissent, create anxiety among the population and reinforce their control on power.