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More than 20 Olympic champions, trainers and other global sports figures have endorsed a statement urging a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst growing international outrage over the country's escalating use of executions as a tool of oppression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the government's verdict to confirm the capital punishment of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for taking part in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of supporting an resistance movement. He has endured half a decade in incarceration, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is intended to promote faith, unity, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his opinions is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to every athlete who dares to express dissent.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The letter pointed out that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and highlighted Iran’s history of sentencing to death athletes for their beliefs, for example a national team leader, skipper of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old national wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Other supporters to the letter comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the inaugural all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a prestigious yachting trophy; the former leader of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was taken into custody in early 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and damage of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was condemned as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Urging to International Body

The urging to prevent the athlete's execution comes after a 2023 statement to the global human rights chief for freedoms, endorsed by more than a hundred rights specialists and groups, urging intervention to prevent the sports figure's death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has achieved horrific levels”. In 2023, authorities executed at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. Last year, records showed 972 executions, marking the maximum count since 2015. In excess of eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are focus, notably in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Analysts say the government have used the executions to stifle dissent, instil fear among the population and tighten their control on authority.