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More than twenty Olympic medallists, trainers and further global sports figures have signed a appeal demanding a end to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is facing execution in Iran.

Growing Global Anger

Amidst growing global condemnation over Iran’s increasing application of executions as a means of suppression, the powerfully expressed appeal censures the government's ruling to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The athlete, thirty, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in the year 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been mistreated and kept in seclusion.

“Sport is designed to promote faith, togetherness, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The death penalty of a winner for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these ideals and a warning to any competitor who ventures to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Competitors

The appeal noted that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and highlighted the country's record of putting to death competitors for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, skipper of the football side, and a women's sports leader, leader of the national women’s volleyball team. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, faced the death penalty.

Other supporters to the appeal consist of a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to earn a prestigious nautical honor; the previous captain of the national squad an athlete; and a footballer, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Detention and Flawed Legal Process

The athlete was arrested in the spring of 2020. The allegations against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and damage of government belongings”. His verdict has been overturned on two occasions but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third occasion. His trial was denounced as “highly unjust” by rights defenders and bodies.

Urging to United Nations

The appeal to stop the athlete's execution comes after a 2023 statement to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by more than one hundred rights specialists and entities, calling for measures to stop the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in Iran, which has achieved alarming dimensions”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least 853 people – a 48% rise on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand capital punishments, representing the peak figure since 2015. Over hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, notably in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Experts say the government have used the death penalty to stifle opposition, create fear among the citizenry and strengthen their hold on rule.