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More than twenty Olympic medal winners, mentors and other global sports figures have put their names to a statement demanding a end to the death penalty of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating International Outrage

Amidst growing worldwide anger over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a means of suppression, the forcefully phrased letter denounces the government's ruling to confirm the execution order of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, thirty, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and charged of supporting an opposition group. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been mistreated and kept in isolation.

“Sport is intended to promote hope, togetherness, and fortitude,” the supporters stated. “The death penalty of a champion for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a caution to every athlete who attempts to express dissent.

Pattern of Putting to Death Sports Figures

The letter noted that the boxer's circumstances was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's past of executing sports champions for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year national competitor, was put to death.

Further endorsers to the appeal comprise a sailing champion, who led the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a prestigious yachting trophy; the former captain of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of state assets”. His verdict has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Urging to UN

The appeal to prevent the athlete's capital punishment is subsequent to a earlier statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, signed by over a hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding intervention to stop the athlete’s capital punishment.

Death Penalty Surge

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved horrific proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities executed at least over 850 people – a 48% increase on 2022. In the prior period, records showed 972 deaths, constituting the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. Over 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and dissidents are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Analysts say the regime have employed the death penalty to stifle opposition, create anxiety among the public and reinforce their grip on rule.