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Over 20 Olympic champions, coaches and further global sports figures have endorsed a statement demanding a end to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing International Outrage

Amidst increasing global condemnation over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the forcefully phrased letter censures the authorities's decision to confirm the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and kept in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to encourage hope, unity, and bravery,” the supporters wrote. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to any competitor who dares to speak out.

Record of Executing Competitors

The statement pointed out that the boxer's situation was not unique and highlighted the country's history of executing competitors for their views, such as Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further signatories to the statement comprise a yachting pioneer, who captained the first female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the ex- leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled on two occasions but on 4 October it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and groups.

Urging to United Nations

The appeal to stop Vafaei Sani’s death sentence comes after a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, signed by over a hundred human rights experts and entities, calling for action to stop the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved alarming proportions”. In 2023, authorities executed at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on 2022. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since 2015. Over 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to suppress protest, create fear among the public and strengthen their hold on rule.