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In excess of 20 Olympic champions, coaches and additional international athletes have endorsed a statement demanding a stop to the execution of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Escalating International Outrage

During increasing worldwide anger over the nation's expanding employment of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the powerfully expressed appeal denounces the authorities's decision to confirm the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from Mashhad in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in nationwide protests in the year 2019 and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been abused and confined in seclusion.

“Sport is meant to promote faith, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers expressed. “The execution of a titleholder for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a caution to every athlete who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and highlighted Iran’s history of sentencing to death sports champions for their beliefs, including a national team leader, leader of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian competitor, faced the death penalty.

Further signatories to the appeal include a sailing champion, who skippered the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous leader of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was detained in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and organizations.

Urging to United Nations

The urging to stop the boxer's death sentence is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by more than a hundred human rights experts and groups, demanding measures to avert the competitor's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has reached shocking levels”. In 2023, the government put to death at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent increase on 2022. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the highest number since 2015. In excess of 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and dissidents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Specialists say the government have used the executions to stifle dissent, instil apprehension among the population and tighten their hold on authority.