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Over two dozen Olympic champions, trainers and other global sports figures have endorsed a appeal calling for a halt to the execution of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is on death row in Iran.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amid increasing international outrage over Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of suppression, the forcefully phrased letter condemns the government's ruling to confirm the capital punishment of the athlete.

Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from the city in the northern province, was detained for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and accused of aiding an opposition group. He has endured 60 months in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and kept in solitary confinement.

“Competition is intended to encourage optimism, unity, and courage,” the signatories wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a blatant attack on these ideals and a caution to every athlete who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Putting to Death Athletes

The letter noted that Vafaei Sani’s situation was not unique and underscored the nation's record of sentencing to death sports champions for their beliefs, such as a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Other signatories to the letter consist of a sailing champion, who skippered the pioneering women's squad in a international sailing event and was the initial female to receive a renowned nautical honor; the former leader of the soccer side Craig Foster; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was detained in early 2020. The accusations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of government belongings”. His verdict has been annulled multiple times but on 4 October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His court case was criticized as “deeply biased” by advocates and organizations.

Appeal to UN

The call to prevent the athlete's execution comes after a previous appeal to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by over 100 human rights experts and entities, demanding intervention to prevent the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

As per reports, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has attained shocking levels”. In the year 2023, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. The year before, data showed 972 deaths, constituting the peak figure since 2015. Over eight hundred people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, notably in the aftermath of the 2022's uprising. Analysts say the government have utilized the executions to quell opposition, instil fear among the public and reinforce their grip on authority.