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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and additional global sports figures have put their names to a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst increasing international outrage over the country's expanding employment of executions as a means of oppression, the forcefully phrased letter censures the authorities's ruling to uphold the execution order of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in the northern province, was detained for participating in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and accused of backing an opposition group. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and held in solitary confinement.

“Sport is designed to encourage faith, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories expressed. “The execution of a champion for his opinions is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter pointed out that the athlete's situation was part of a pattern and underscored Iran’s past of executing competitors for their views, such as Habib Khabiri, captain of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further signatories to the statement include Tracy Edwards, who captained the first women's squad in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious nautical honor; the previous skipper of the national squad an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the global tournament.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was detained in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him comprised “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third occasion. His legal proceedings was criticized as “highly unjust” by advocates and groups.

Urging to UN

The call to stop the boxer's death sentence follows a 2023 statement to the global human rights chief for rights, signed by over 100 rights specialists and groups, calling for action to stop the sports figure's death.

Death Penalty Surge

As per reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has attained horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent rise on the previous year. In the prior period, statistics showed nearly a thousand deaths, marking the peak figure since the year 2015. More than 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are targets, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to stifle opposition, generate fear among the population and tighten their hold on authority.