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More than two dozen Olympic champions, coaches and additional global sports figures have signed a appeal urging a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is on death row in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

During increasing global condemnation over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded statement censures the Iranian regime's decision to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was arrested for participating in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Sport is intended to inspire optimism, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his beliefs is a clear violation on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who ventures to express dissent.

History of Executing Athletes

The statement noted that Vafaei Sani’s case was not unique and underscored the country's history of executing sports champions for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the female volleyball side. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a young Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Additional signatories to the letter include a yachting pioneer, who captained the first female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to receive a renowned yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the national squad an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His sentence has been reversed on two occasions but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His trial was condemned as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups.

Call to International Body

The urging to prevent the boxer's capital punishment follows a earlier statement to the United Nations official for freedoms, endorsed by over 100 human rights experts and groups, urging measures to avert the athlete’s capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

Based on data, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached alarming proportions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half rise on 2022. Last year, records showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Experts say the regime have employed the capital punishment to stifle protest, generate anxiety among the population and tighten their grip on authority.