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Over 20 Olympic medallists, coaches and further global sports figures have signed a statement calling for a stop to the execution of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Growing Global Anger

Amid growing worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed statement denounces the government's verdict to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was detained for being involved in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has endured half a decade in detention, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Sport is designed to promote faith, solidarity, and courage,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a clear violation on these values and a admonition to any competitor who ventures to voice opinions.

History of Executing Athletes

The letter noted that the boxer's circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored Iran’s history of executing sports champions for their convictions, such as a national team leader, captain of the football side, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old national competitor, was also executed.

Other signatories to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a prestigious sailing award; the former leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been annulled on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was condemned as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Call to United Nations

The appeal to halt the boxer's execution follows a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by more than 100 rights specialists and entities, calling for intervention to prevent the sports figure's death.

Death Penalty Surge

According to data, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has reached horrific proportions”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a 48% surge on 2022. Last year, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, marking the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the government have utilized the capital punishment to suppress dissent, generate fear among the public and reinforce their grip on power.