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More than 20 Olympic medallists, coaches and other global sports figures have endorsed a appeal demanding a end to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is on death row in the nation.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst rising worldwide anger over the nation's increasing application of the death penalty as a instrument of suppression, the forcefully phrased appeal condemns the authorities's ruling to uphold the death sentence of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in 2019 and indicted of supporting an opposition group. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.

“Sport is meant to promote faith, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters wrote. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these principles and a caution to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal said that the boxer's case was part of a pattern and underscored Iran’s history of sentencing to death sports champions for their views, including Habib Khabiri, captain of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old national wrestling champion, was put to death.

Further supporters to the statement consist of a yachting pioneer, who captained the inaugural all-female crew in a round-the-world competition and was the first woman to receive a esteemed sailing award; the former captain of the Australian football team an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the Iranian squad for the global tournament.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The accusations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of public property”. His ruling has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was denounced as “grossly unfair” by rights defenders and groups.

Appeal to United Nations

The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s execution is subsequent to a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by more than 100 human rights experts and entities, calling for intervention to avert the sports figure's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to reports, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained horrific levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, officials sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half rise on 2022. Last year, records showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, constituting the peak figure since 2015. More than eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are victims, especially in the wake of the 2022's demonstrations. Experts say the government have used the death penalty to suppress protest, generate anxiety among the citizenry and strengthen their control on power.