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More than 20 Olympic medal winners, coaches and additional world-class competitors have signed a appeal urging a end to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Escalating International Outrage

Amid growing global condemnation over the country's escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the powerfully expressed statement denounces the government's decision to confirm the execution order of the boxing champion.

The boxer, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of backing an dissident organization. He has endured half a decade in detention, where he has been mistreated and kept in seclusion.

“Competition is designed to promote hope, solidarity, and fortitude,” the supporters expressed. “The death penalty of a winner for his beliefs is a direct assault on these principles and a warning to any competitor who attempts to speak out.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The letter said that Vafaei Sani’s situation was part of a pattern and underscored Iran’s record of executing sports champions for their convictions, for example a football captain, leader of the football side, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Additional signatories to the statement consist of a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the former captain of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unfair Trial

The athlete was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled on two occasions but on October 4 it was maintained on the third attempt. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Urging to UN

The appeal to prevent the athlete's death sentence follows a previous appeal to the global human rights chief for human rights, backed by over one hundred rights specialists and entities, calling for intervention to prevent the sports figure's death.

Execution Crisis

As per findings, there is an “execution crisis in Iran, which has reached alarming levels”. In 2023, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent surge on the previous year. Last year, statistics showed 972 deaths, constituting the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. More than hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are targets, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have used the executions to suppress protest, create apprehension among the public and reinforce their control on rule.