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Over twenty Olympic medallists, mentors and additional world-class competitors have endorsed a statement calling for a stop to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst increasing worldwide anger over the nation's expanding employment of capital punishment as a tool of repression, the powerfully expressed appeal condemns the government's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, thirty, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was detained for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has passed five years in incarceration, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.

“Sport is meant to encourage hope, togetherness, and bravery,” the supporters wrote. “The death penalty of a champion for his opinions is a blatant attack on these principles and a caution to every athlete who ventures to speak out.

History of Killing Sports Figures

The statement noted that the athlete's circumstances was not unique and emphasized Iran’s record of putting to death sports champions for their beliefs, for example a national team leader, captain of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, was put to death.

Other endorsers to the statement consist of a yachting pioneer, who captained the first all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to earn a esteemed nautical honor; the previous captain of the soccer side Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was detained in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His verdict has been reversed twice but on October 4 it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies.

Appeal to International Body

The appeal to prevent the athlete's death sentence is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by in excess of one hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding action to avert the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has reached horrific proportions”. In 2023, the government sentenced at least over 850 people – a 48% increase on the previous year. In the prior period, data showed nearly a thousand executions, constituting the highest number since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Specialists say the government have used the death penalty to suppress opposition, create fear among the public and tighten their hold on authority.