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In excess of two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and other world-class competitors have signed a statement calling for a end to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and coach, who is facing execution in the country.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

During increasing worldwide anger over the nation's expanding employment of the death penalty as a means of repression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the government's decision to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and kept in isolation.

“Athletics is meant to promote hope, solidarity, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The death penalty of a winner for his beliefs is a direct assault on these ideals and a admonition to all sportspeople who ventures to voice opinions.

History of Executing Athletes

The statement pointed out that the athlete's case was not unique and emphasized Iran’s record of sentencing to death athletes for their convictions, such as Habib Khabiri, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, an athlete, a 27-year national wrestling champion, was also executed.

Other signatories to the appeal include a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a renowned sailing award; the ex- captain of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was detained in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of government belongings”. His verdict has been overturned on two occasions but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Urging to International Body

The urging to halt the athlete's capital punishment is subsequent to a previous statement to the United Nations official for human rights, signed by over 100 human rights experts and entities, demanding action to avert the sports figure's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to data, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has attained alarming proportions”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a 48% increase on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand executions, marking the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. Over eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have used the executions to stifle dissent, instil apprehension among the public and reinforce their grip on power.