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More than two dozen Olympic medal winners, mentors and further world-class competitors have put their names to a letter calling for a end to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amid increasing worldwide anger over the nation's escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of suppression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the government's decision to maintain the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of supporting an dissident organization. He has spent 60 months in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and confined in isolation.

“Sport is meant to encourage optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the endorsers stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to express dissent.

Record of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The statement said that Vafaei Sani’s situation was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's past of putting to death sports champions for their views, for example a football captain, captain of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, was put to death.

Additional supporters to the appeal include Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the ex- captain of the national squad an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The boxer was detained in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of public property”. His sentence has been overturned multiple times but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the latest review. His trial was denounced as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and organizations.

Call to UN

The urging to stop the athlete's death sentence follows a earlier letter to the United Nations official for freedoms, signed by more than one hundred human rights experts and groups, demanding action to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. The year before, records showed 972 capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since 2015. More than hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 protests. Experts say the government have used the capital punishment to quell protest, instil fear among the population and strengthen their grip on authority.