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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, trainers and further global sports figures have endorsed a letter demanding a end to the execution of a champion boxer and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Escalating Global Anger

Amidst increasing global condemnation over the country's increasing application of executions as a means of oppression, the strongly worded letter denounces the Iranian regime's decision to maintain the death sentence of the boxing champion.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for participating in nationwide protests in 2019 and indicted of aiding an opposition group. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.

“Competition is intended to encourage hope, solidarity, and courage,” the signatories wrote. “The death penalty of a winner for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to voice opinions.

Record of Killing Sports Figures

The appeal pointed out that the boxer's case was not unique and emphasized the country's record of putting to death sports champions for their convictions, such as Habib Khabiri, leader of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, was also executed.

Further supporters to the appeal comprise a sailing champion, who skippered the inaugural all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the first woman to earn a esteemed yachting trophy; the previous skipper of the national squad Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was detained in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and damage of government belongings”. His sentence has been reversed multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by advocates and organizations.

Appeal to United Nations

The call to prevent the boxer's execution comes after a earlier statement to the United Nations official for human rights, backed by more than one hundred advocates and organizations, demanding measures to stop the sports figure's execution.

Execution Crisis

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, marking the peak figure since the year 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the capital punishment to suppress dissent, create apprehension among the public and reinforce their control on power.