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Over 20 Olympic medallists, mentors and further global sports figures have signed a statement urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing champion and trainer, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

During growing global condemnation over the country's escalating use of capital punishment as a means of suppression, the strongly worded appeal condemns the government's decision to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was arrested for being involved in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of supporting an opposition group. He has spent 60 months in incarceration, where he has been tortured and confined in isolation.

“Competition is designed to inspire faith, togetherness, and fortitude,” the endorsers stated. “The execution of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Killing Athletes

The letter noted that the athlete's case was not an isolated one and underscored Iran’s past of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, for example a football captain, skipper of the football side, and a women's sports leader, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further supporters to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The accusations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His verdict has been annulled twice but on 4 October it was maintained on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was condemned as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to International Body

The urging to prevent Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a 2023 appeal to the global human rights chief for rights, backed by in excess of 100 advocates and groups, urging action to prevent the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has achieved alarming levels”. In 2023, officials put to death at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. The year before, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the peak figure since the year 2015. More than hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the the year 2022 protests. Experts say the government have used the capital punishment to suppress opposition, instil anxiety among the citizenry and tighten their hold on authority.