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More than 20 Olympic medallists, coaches and other world-class competitors have signed a statement calling for a halt to the execution of a boxing titleholder and trainer, who is facing execution in Iran.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

During rising global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a instrument of repression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the authorities's decision to uphold the execution order of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for participating in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and accused of aiding an dissident organization. He has passed five years in detention, where he has been mistreated and confined in seclusion.

“Athletics is meant to promote optimism, solidarity, and bravery,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a winner for his political views is a clear violation on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who dares to express dissent.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The statement said that the boxer's situation was part of a pattern and underscored the country's past of putting to death sports champions for their views, for example a national team leader, leader of the football side, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was put to death.

Additional signatories to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the first woman to be awarded a renowned sailing award; the former captain of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the international competition.

Apprehension and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was taken into custody in the spring of 2020. The accusations against him included “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “deeply biased” by human rights activists and organizations.

Appeal to International Body

The call to prevent Vafaei Sani’s death sentence follows a earlier statement to the UN high commissioner for freedoms, backed by over 100 rights specialists and entities, demanding intervention to prevent the competitor's execution.

Execution Crisis

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained shocking dimensions”. In 2023, the government sentenced at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. The year before, data showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, constituting the highest number since the year 2015. More than 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and dissidents are victims, notably in the aftermath of the the year 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the government have utilized the capital punishment to suppress protest, generate fear among the public and reinforce their grip on power.