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More than 20 Olympic champions, mentors and additional international athletes have endorsed a appeal calling for a stop to the execution of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Increasing International Outrage

Amidst growing worldwide anger over the nation's increasing application of capital punishment as a means of suppression, the forcefully phrased letter denounces the government's decision to uphold the death sentence of the athlete.

The athlete, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and accused of aiding an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and held in solitary confinement.

“Competition is intended to promote optimism, unity, and courage,” the signatories expressed. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to every athlete who ventures to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Competitors

The letter said that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the country's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, including a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old national wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further signatories to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering women's squad in a global yacht race and was the first woman to earn a prestigious yachting trophy; the ex- skipper of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and ruin of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned on two occasions but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and bodies.

Call to International Body

The call to halt the boxer's execution follows a previous statement to the UN high commissioner for human rights, backed by over a hundred human rights experts and groups, demanding intervention to prevent the sports figure's death.

Execution Crisis

As per data, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In 2023, authorities executed at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. In the prior period, data showed 972 capital punishments, representing the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. Over eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Experts say the regime have employed the executions to quell opposition, instil anxiety among the population and strengthen their control on power.