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In excess of 20 Olympic champions, trainers and further international athletes have endorsed a statement urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating Global Anger

During growing global condemnation over the nation's escalating use of executions as a instrument of repression, the powerfully expressed letter denounces the authorities's verdict to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and kept in isolation.

“Competition is meant to promote faith, solidarity, and bravery,” the supporters stated. “The death penalty of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these ideals and a warning to every athlete who dares to speak out.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The statement said that the boxer's case was not an isolated one and underscored Iran’s past of putting to death athletes for their views, including a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national sports titleholder, was also executed.

Additional signatories to the letter include Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a prestigious sailing award; the ex- captain of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was detained in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through arson and damage of public property”. His ruling has been annulled multiple times but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and bodies.

Urging to UN

The call to stop the boxer's capital punishment follows a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, backed by more than 100 rights specialists and organizations, calling for action to avert the athlete’s capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has reached alarming levels”. In 2023, officials executed at least 853 people – a 48% increase on 2022. In the prior period, data showed 972 capital punishments, marking the highest number since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the regime have used the executions to stifle dissent, generate anxiety among the population and tighten their hold on power.