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In excess of twenty Olympic medallists, trainers and additional international athletes have put their names to a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

During rising worldwide anger over the country's expanding employment of capital punishment as a tool of oppression, the strongly worded statement censures the government's decision to confirm the death sentence of the athlete.

The boxer, thirty, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has spent 60 months in prison, where he has been tortured and held in seclusion.

“Athletics is intended to encourage faith, togetherness, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a direct assault on these values and a caution to every athlete who ventures to speak out.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter pointed out that the athlete's situation was not unique and emphasized the nation's record of executing sports champions for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, skipper of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Other endorsers to the statement consist of a sailing champion, who led the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to receive a esteemed nautical honor; the ex- captain of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a footballer, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was detained in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His ruling has been reversed on two occasions but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Urging to United Nations

The urging to prevent Vafaei Sani’s execution follows a 2023 letter to the global human rights chief for rights, backed by in excess of 100 human rights experts and organizations, urging intervention to stop the sports figure's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. Last year, records showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the peak figure since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have employed the executions to quell opposition, create anxiety among the citizenry and reinforce their grip on rule.