🔗 Share this article

Over two dozen Olympic medallists, coaches and further global sports figures have endorsed a letter calling for a end to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Global Anger

During increasing global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded statement denounces the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for being involved in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of supporting an opposition group. He has passed half a decade in detention, where he has been mistreated and kept in isolation.

“Competition is intended to promote faith, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his beliefs is a direct assault on these principles and a caution to every athlete who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Sports Figures

The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's history of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year national sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Additional signatories to the appeal include Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to earn a renowned yachting trophy; the ex- captain of the national squad a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in early 2020. The charges against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and ruin of government belongings”. His sentence has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by advocates and organizations.

Call to UN

The call to prevent the boxer's capital punishment is subsequent to a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for freedoms, backed by more than one hundred advocates and groups, demanding action to stop the sports figure's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

As per findings, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached shocking levels”. In the year 2023, officials put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half surge on the previous year. In the prior period, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, constituting the highest number since two thousand fifteen. More than 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Experts say the regime have used the executions to suppress protest, instil apprehension among the public and reinforce their hold on authority.