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More than 20 Olympic champions, coaches and additional world-class competitors have signed a appeal urging a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Escalating International Outrage

Amidst increasing worldwide anger over Iran’s expanding employment of the death penalty as a means of repression, the strongly worded letter denounces the government's verdict to confirm the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, thirty, from the city in north-east Iran, was taken into custody for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and charged of aiding an dissident organization. He has spent 60 months in incarceration, where he has been abused and held in seclusion.

“Competition is meant to promote hope, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a champion for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to voice opinions.

Pattern of Killing Sports Figures

The appeal noted that Vafaei Sani’s case was part of a pattern and highlighted Iran’s history of sentencing to death competitors for their views, for example a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, captain of the national women’s volleyball team. In the year 2020, an athlete, a young national wrestling champion, was also executed.

Additional supporters to the letter include a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the initial female to be awarded a esteemed yachting trophy; the ex- leader of the soccer side an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The accusations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through arson and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been annulled on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the latest review. His trial was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and organizations.

Appeal to International Body

The urging to stop the athlete's execution comes after a earlier statement to the global human rights chief for human rights, endorsed by more than 100 advocates and entities, calling for intervention to avert the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has attained alarming levels”. In 2023, authorities sentenced at least over 850 people – a 48% surge on the previous year. Last year, data showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the peak figure since the year 2015. Over eight hundred people have been executed so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Experts say the Iranian authorities have used the capital punishment to quell opposition, generate fear among the population and tighten their grip on power.