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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, coaches and further international athletes have signed a statement demanding a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Increasing International Outrage

During growing worldwide anger over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment as a means of repression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the authorities's ruling to uphold the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was detained for participating in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of backing an opposition group. He has endured half a decade in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to encourage faith, solidarity, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The death penalty of a winner for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these values and a admonition to all sportspeople who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Executing Athletes

The statement said that the boxer's situation was part of a pattern and underscored the country's past of executing athletes for their convictions, for example Habib Khabiri, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, an athlete, a young national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed yachting trophy; the ex- leader of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was detained in the spring of 2020. The charges against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of state assets”. His verdict has been annulled on two occasions but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and groups.

Call to UN

The appeal to stop the boxer's execution follows a earlier statement to the United Nations official for rights, backed by more than 100 rights specialists and organizations, demanding action to prevent the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has reached horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least 853 people – a 48% surge on 2022. In the prior period, data showed nine hundred seventy-two deaths, marking the maximum count since the year 2015. In excess of 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have used the capital punishment to suppress dissent, instil anxiety among the public and strengthen their control on authority.