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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, trainers and other international athletes have signed a letter urging a halt to the execution of a boxing champion and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Escalating Global Anger

Amidst increasing worldwide anger over Iran’s increasing application of capital punishment as a instrument of suppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the government's decision to confirm the execution order of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of supporting an dissident organization. He has spent five years in detention, where he has been abused and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is intended to inspire faith, unity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his political views is a direct assault on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who ventures to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The appeal noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's past of executing sports champions for their convictions, for example a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Further signatories to the appeal include a yachting pioneer, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to be awarded a prestigious yachting trophy; the ex- leader of the national squad an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been overturned multiple times but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His court case was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and groups.

Appeal to International Body

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s execution is subsequent to a earlier letter to the United Nations official for human rights, signed by over 100 rights specialists and groups, calling for measures to avert the athlete’s capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has reached shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government executed at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. In the prior period, statistics showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the maximum count since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Specialists say the regime have used the capital punishment to suppress opposition, create apprehension among the population and strengthen their grip on power.