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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and additional world-class competitors have put their names to a appeal demanding a stop to the execution of a champion boxer and trainer, who is facing execution in the country.

Escalating Global Anger

During growing international outrage over the nation's expanding employment of executions as a means of suppression, the forcefully phrased letter censures the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, 30, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was taken into custody for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and confined in seclusion.

“Sport is designed to inspire faith, togetherness, and bravery,” the signatories stated. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to speak out.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal noted that the athlete's situation was not unique and highlighted Iran’s record of putting to death sports champions for their views, such as a football captain, leader of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a young national competitor, was put to death.

Additional signatories to the statement consist of a sailing champion, who led the pioneering female-only team in a global yacht race and was the first woman to earn a renowned nautical honor; the previous captain of the national squad a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

Vafaei Sani was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and damage of state assets”. His ruling has been overturned on two occasions but on 4 October it was confirmed on the latest review. His court case was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to United Nations

The urging to prevent the boxer's death sentence comes after a previous appeal to the global human rights chief for freedoms, endorsed by over one hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding action to prevent the sports figure's capital punishment.

Execution Crisis

According to reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached horrific levels”. In the year 2023, authorities sentenced at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on 2022. The year before, statistics showed 972 deaths, constituting the peak figure since the year 2015. Over hundreds of people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, especially in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Experts say the government have employed the executions to quell opposition, create fear among the population and strengthen their grip on rule.