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Over two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and additional global sports figures have signed a letter demanding a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.

Increasing International Outrage

During rising global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a instrument of suppression, the powerfully expressed statement denounces the Iranian regime's ruling to confirm the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has spent 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.

“Competition is designed to inspire faith, solidarity, and bravery,” the endorsers stated. “The death penalty of a champion for his opinions is a direct assault on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who ventures to express dissent.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The letter pointed out that the boxer's case was part of a pattern and highlighted the nation's record of executing competitors for their beliefs, for example a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the female volleyball side. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further endorsers to the statement consist of a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the ex- captain of the Australian football team an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

The athlete was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and organizations.

Urging to International Body

The urging to halt Vafaei Sani’s capital punishment comes after a 2023 appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, backed by more than a hundred human rights experts and organizations, calling for intervention to stop the sports figure's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has reached horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on the previous year. Last year, statistics showed 972 executions, representing the maximum count since 2015. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, particularly in the wake of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the government have used the capital punishment to suppress dissent, create apprehension among the population and reinforce their grip on power.