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Over two dozen Olympic champions, coaches and further global sports figures have put their names to a appeal urging a stop to the death penalty of a boxing champion and coach, who is sentenced to die in Iran.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst increasing international outrage over Iran’s expanding employment of the death penalty as a tool of repression, the strongly worded appeal censures the Iranian regime's decision to maintain the capital punishment of the athlete.

The boxer, 30, from Mashhad in the northern province, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has endured five years in prison, where he has been mistreated and held in seclusion.

“Athletics is designed to inspire optimism, unity, and fortitude,” the signatories stated. “The death penalty of a champion for his opinions is a clear violation on these ideals and a warning to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent.

History of Killing Competitors

The appeal pointed out that the athlete's case was not unique and underscored the country's record of putting to death athletes for their views, including Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year Iranian wrestling champion, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the inaugural female-only team in a global yacht race and was the initial female to receive a prestigious sailing award; the previous captain of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the 1978 World Cup.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The accusations against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through arson and ruin of government belongings”. His ruling has been annulled twice but on the fourth of October it was maintained on the latest review. His court case was condemned as “deeply biased” by advocates and organizations.

Urging to United Nations

The urging to stop the boxer's death sentence is subsequent to a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, backed by over a hundred rights specialists and entities, urging measures to stop the competitor's death.

Death Penalty Surge

Based on reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the country, which has achieved horrific dimensions”. In the year 2023, officials put to death at least over 850 people – a nearly half increase on the previous year. The year before, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, constituting the maximum count since the year 2015. Over eight hundred people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 protests. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have used the capital punishment to quell dissent, create anxiety among the public and reinforce their hold on authority.