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In excess of 20 Olympic medal winners, coaches and further international athletes have signed a letter demanding a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the nation.

Growing Global Anger

During rising global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed appeal denounces the authorities's ruling to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for taking part in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of backing an opposition group. He has spent 60 months in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and confined in seclusion.

“Sport is designed to encourage faith, unity, and fortitude,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these values and a caution to every athlete who ventures to express dissent.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The appeal pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was part of a pattern and emphasized Iran’s record of putting to death competitors for their convictions, for example Habib Khabiri, leader of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was put to death.

Further signatories to the statement consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the inaugural female-only team in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to earn a esteemed nautical honor; the previous leader of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of public property”. His verdict has been overturned twice but on October 4 it was maintained on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies.

Appeal to International Body

The appeal to halt the boxer's death sentence follows a 2023 statement to the United Nations official for freedoms, endorsed by in excess of 100 human rights experts and organizations, demanding measures to prevent the sports figure's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained alarming levels”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on the previous year. The year before, statistics showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. More than hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Experts say the regime have utilized the death penalty to stifle dissent, create apprehension among the citizenry and strengthen their grip on power.