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More than two dozen Olympic medal winners, coaches and additional international athletes have put their names to a appeal urging a halt to the execution of a boxing champion and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst rising global condemnation over Iran’s escalating use of the death penalty as a means of oppression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the authorities's decision to maintain the execution order of the athlete.

The athlete, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northeastern region, was detained for being involved in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and indicted of aiding an dissident organization. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been abused and kept in seclusion.

“Athletics is meant to encourage faith, solidarity, and courage,” the signatories stated. “The execution of a winner for his political views is a blatant attack on these values and a caution to every athlete who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Killing Competitors

The appeal pointed out that the boxer's situation was part of a pattern and underscored the country's record of putting to death sports champions for their views, including a football captain, captain of the soccer squad, and a volleyball captain, captain of the female volleyball side. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year Iranian sports titleholder, was put to death.

Further signatories to the appeal comprise a yachting pioneer, who captained the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to receive a prestigious nautical honor; the former leader of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Detention and Unfair Trial

The athlete was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him comprised “spreading corruption on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of state assets”. His ruling has been annulled on two occasions but on October 4 it was maintained on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “grossly unfair” by human rights activists and bodies.

Urging to United Nations

The call to halt Vafaei Sani’s death sentence comes after a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by over a hundred rights specialists and groups, calling for measures to stop the athlete’s death.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per data, there is an “death penalty surge in the nation, which has reached shocking proportions”. In 2023, authorities put to death at least over 850 people – a 48% rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, marking the highest number since the year 2015. In excess of hundreds of people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are victims, particularly in the wake of the 2022's uprising. Experts say the Iranian authorities have utilized the executions to suppress protest, generate apprehension among the citizenry and strengthen their hold on power.