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Over twenty Olympic champions, mentors and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a letter demanding a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is on death row in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

Amid increasing global condemnation over the nation's increasing application of executions as a means of repression, the strongly worded statement censures the authorities's verdict to maintain the execution order of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in national uprisings in the year 2019 and accused of backing an resistance movement. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been tortured and kept in solitary confinement.

“Competition is intended to inspire faith, unity, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to any competitor who dares to express dissent.

History of Killing Sports Figures

The statement pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and underscored Iran’s history of executing athletes for their views, such as a football captain, captain of the football side, and a women's sports leader, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, an athlete, a 27-year national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional endorsers to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the first women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to receive a renowned sailing award; the former skipper of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The accusations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to International Body

The appeal to stop the athlete's execution follows a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over a hundred human rights experts and organizations, urging measures to avert the sports figure's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In 2023, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% rise on 2022. The year before, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the highest number since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and dissidents are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to quell dissent, create anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their hold on rule.