🔗 Share this article

Over 20 Olympic medal winners, mentors and additional global sports figures have endorsed a statement calling for a end to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Escalating Global Anger

Amid growing worldwide anger over the country's escalating use of capital punishment as a means of suppression, the strongly worded letter denounces the government's decision to confirm the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, 30, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for participating in national uprisings in 2019 and accused of supporting an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in seclusion.

“Athletics is intended to encourage optimism, unity, and courage,” the endorsers expressed. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter said that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and highlighted the nation's history of executing athletes for their convictions, such as Habib Khabiri, skipper of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a young national competitor, faced the death penalty.

Additional endorsers to the statement include Tracy Edwards, who skippered the inaugural all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious sailing award; the former leader of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was detained in early 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of state assets”. His sentence has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was criticized as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to United Nations

The appeal to stop the boxer's execution comes after a previous letter to the global human rights chief for rights, backed by over 100 rights specialists and organizations, demanding measures to avert the athlete’s death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has achieved horrific levels”. In 2023, officials executed at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand executions, representing the peak figure since 2015. Over eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and opponents are targets, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have employed the executions to quell protest, instil fear among the public and reinforce their control on authority.