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Over two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and other global sports figures have signed a statement urging a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.

Growing International Outrage

Amidst increasing global condemnation over the nation's expanding employment of executions as a tool of repression, the forcefully phrased letter denounces the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence of the athlete.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for participating in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of supporting an dissident organization. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been abused and held in solitary confinement.

“Competition is meant to encourage hope, unity, and courage,” the signatories expressed. “The execution of a winner for his opinions is a blatant attack on these principles and a admonition to any competitor who dares to speak out.

Pattern of Killing Competitors

The appeal noted that the athlete's circumstances was part of a pattern and emphasized the country's history of sentencing to death sports champions for their convictions, such as a national team leader, skipper of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Other supporters to the letter consist of a yachting pioneer, who led the inaugural women's squad in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the ex- skipper of the Australian football team an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The charges against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and damage of public property”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Urging to UN

The appeal to prevent the athlete's death sentence follows a 2023 letter to the United Nations official for human rights, signed by over one hundred rights specialists and organizations, calling for action to stop the sports figure's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on data, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved alarming dimensions”. In 2023, the government executed at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, records showed 972 deaths, marking the peak figure since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, especially in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Experts say the government have utilized the capital punishment to suppress dissent, create anxiety among the public and reinforce their grip on rule.