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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and further global sports figures have signed a appeal urging a halt to the execution of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Increasing International Outrage

Amid increasing international outrage over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a instrument of repression, the strongly worded letter censures the government's decision to maintain the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, thirty, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for being involved in nationwide protests in 2019 and charged of aiding an opposition group. He has passed 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and confined in solitary confinement.

“Athletics is designed to encourage faith, solidarity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The capital punishment of a champion for his opinions is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to every athlete who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Athletes

The statement said that the athlete's circumstances was not unique and underscored the nation's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, including a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian competitor, was put to death.

Further signatories to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who led the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the national squad an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Detention and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His court case was criticized as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and groups.

Appeal to United Nations

The call to stop the athlete's death sentence is subsequent to a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by over one hundred rights specialists and groups, calling for measures to stop the competitor's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has achieved horrific levels”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least over 850 people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Experts say the Iranian authorities have used the capital punishment to quell protest, generate fear among the public and reinforce their grip on authority.