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In excess of 20 Olympic champions, mentors and further global sports figures have endorsed a letter demanding a end to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and coach, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating International Outrage

Amid increasing international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the powerfully expressed letter censures the government's ruling to confirm the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of supporting an opposition group. He has spent five years in prison, where he has been tortured and kept in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to promote optimism, unity, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The capital punishment of a champion for his opinions is a direct assault on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out.

History of Executing Athletes

The statement pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and highlighted the nation's record of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, including Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, captain of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Other supporters to the appeal consist of Tracy Edwards, who led the inaugural female-only team in a global yacht race and was the initial female to earn a renowned sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The athlete was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of state assets”. His ruling has been reversed on two occasions but on 4 October it was upheld on the third attempt. His trial was criticized as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and bodies.

Urging to International Body

The call to stop the boxer's execution follows a 2023 letter to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by more than 100 human rights experts and organizations, demanding measures to avert the sports figure's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained alarming levels”. In 2023, officials sentenced at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. The year before, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. Over 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are targets, notably in the wake of the 2022 uprising. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have used the executions to quell opposition, instil apprehension among the citizenry and reinforce their grip on authority.