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In excess of twenty Olympic medal winners, trainers and further international athletes have put their names to a statement urging a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amid increasing worldwide anger over Iran’s expanding employment of executions as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed letter denounces the authorities's decision to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of aiding an resistance movement. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been tortured and held in solitary confinement.

“Sport is intended to encourage optimism, unity, and fortitude,” the supporters expressed. “The capital punishment of a winner for his opinions is a blatant attack on these values and a caution to every athlete who ventures to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Sports Figures

The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and emphasized the country's history of putting to death athletes for their views, for example a national team leader, skipper 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 27-year national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Further signatories to the statement include a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the ex- captain of the national squad Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was detained in early 2020. The allegations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on October 4 it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “highly unjust” by advocates and organizations.

Appeal to UN

The urging to halt the boxer's capital punishment is subsequent to a 2023 appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, signed by more than one hundred rights specialists and organizations, urging action to stop the sports figure's death.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has reached horrific proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a 48% surge on 2022. The year before, records showed 972 capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. Over eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and dissidents are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to suppress dissent, create apprehension among the public and tighten their hold on power.