Elite Athletes Call on Iranian Authorities to Prevent Death Sentence of Boxing Star

More than 20 Olympic champions, trainers and additional world-class competitors have endorsed a appeal demanding a halt to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing International Outrage

During growing international outrage over the country's escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of oppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the authorities's ruling to confirm the death sentence of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in isolation.

“Sport is meant to inspire faith, unity, and fortitude,” the signatories wrote. “The execution of a winner for his opinions is a blatant attack on these values and a admonition to every athlete who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Executing Sports Figures

The statement pointed out that the boxer's circumstances was not unique and underscored the nation's record of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, such as Habib Khabiri, captain of the national football team, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Other supporters to the letter comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous leader of the Australian football team an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been overturned multiple times but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was condemned as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and bodies.

Appeal to United Nations

The appeal to stop the boxer's death sentence comes after a earlier letter to the global human rights chief for rights, endorsed by in excess of one hundred human rights experts and organizations, calling for action to stop the sports figure's capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

Based on findings, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached shocking levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials sentenced at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. Last year, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the maximum count since the year 2015. More than eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 demonstrations. Specialists say the regime have used the executions to suppress opposition, create fear among the population and strengthen their grip on authority.