🔗 Share this article

Over twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and other world-class competitors have signed a statement urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is on death row in the nation.

Increasing Global Anger

During rising worldwide anger over Iran’s escalating use of executions as a tool of oppression, the powerfully expressed statement denounces the authorities's decision to uphold the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in two thousand nineteen and accused of supporting an dissident organization. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and held in isolation.

“Sport is intended to encourage optimism, togetherness, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The capital punishment of a winner for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a caution to all sportspeople who dares to voice opinions.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The statement noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and underscored the country's record of executing sports champions for their views, for example a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was put to death.

Further signatories to the letter comprise a yachting pioneer, who skippered the inaugural all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to receive a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous captain of the Australian football team an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in the spring of 2020. The charges against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through arson and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned multiple times but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and bodies.

Call to United Nations

The call to stop the athlete's execution follows a previous letter to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by in excess of one hundred rights specialists and groups, urging action to stop the sports figure's death.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached alarming proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% increase on 2022. The year before, statistics showed 972 capital punishments, marking the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. More than eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's protests. Experts say the government have used the death penalty to stifle dissent, generate fear among the population and strengthen their hold on authority.