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Over 20 Olympic medallists, mentors and other international athletes have signed a appeal urging a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is on death row in the country.

Growing International Outrage

During rising global condemnation over the country's expanding employment of the death penalty as a instrument of suppression, the strongly worded appeal censures the authorities's decision to confirm the capital punishment of the athlete.

The athlete, thirty, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for being involved in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and indicted of aiding an opposition group. He has spent half a decade in prison, where he has been tortured and confined in seclusion.

“Competition is intended to inspire optimism, solidarity, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The execution of a winner for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a caution to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

Record of Killing Sports Figures

The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and underscored the nation's record of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, including a national team leader, captain of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a young national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Additional endorsers to the appeal consist of Tracy Edwards, who skippered the pioneering women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to receive a esteemed sailing award; the previous skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Detention and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of public property”. His sentence has been reversed on two occasions but on October 4 it was upheld on the latest review. His legal proceedings was criticized as “highly unjust” by advocates and organizations.

Call to UN

The urging to prevent the athlete's execution is subsequent to a 2023 statement to the global human rights chief for freedoms, endorsed by over a hundred rights specialists and entities, demanding action to prevent the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has attained shocking levels”. In 2023, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand deaths, constituting the maximum count since two thousand fifteen. More than hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are victims, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Analysts say the regime have employed the death penalty to suppress opposition, generate apprehension among the citizenry and strengthen their control on power.