🔗 Share this article

More than 20 Olympic champions, trainers and further international athletes have put their names to a appeal demanding a halt to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing Global Anger

During growing international outrage over Iran’s expanding employment of capital punishment as a tool of repression, the forcefully phrased appeal censures the government's ruling to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of supporting an opposition group. He has endured five years in detention, where he has been mistreated and kept in isolation.

“Competition is meant to encourage hope, unity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Competitors

The statement pointed out that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and underscored Iran’s history of executing sports champions for their beliefs, for example Habib Khabiri, skipper of the football side, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, an athlete, a young Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Further supporters to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the first female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the former skipper of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in March 2020. The accusations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of government belongings”. His sentence has been annulled twice but on 4 October it was maintained on the latest review. His legal proceedings was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and bodies.

Call to International Body

The appeal to stop the athlete's execution comes after a earlier statement to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by over one hundred advocates and organizations, calling for measures to stop the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials sentenced at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on the previous year. In the prior period, data showed 972 deaths, representing the peak figure since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and dissidents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the regime have utilized the executions to suppress opposition, create apprehension among the citizenry and reinforce their control on authority.