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More than two dozen Olympic champions, coaches and further world-class competitors have signed a appeal demanding a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and instructor, who is facing execution in the nation.

Growing Worldwide Condemnation

During rising worldwide anger over the nation's increasing application of executions as a means of suppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the Iranian regime's decision to confirm the death sentence of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, 30, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for being involved in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and charged of supporting an resistance movement. He has passed five years in detention, where he has been tortured and held in seclusion.

“Sport is meant to encourage hope, unity, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The execution of a titleholder for his political views is a clear violation on these ideals and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to express dissent.

History of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter said that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored the nation's past of sentencing to death competitors for their views, for example Habib Khabiri, captain of the national football team, and a volleyball captain, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian competitor, was also executed.

Additional signatories to the appeal consist of a yachting pioneer, who led the first women's squad in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to earn a renowned nautical honor; the ex- leader of the Australian football team a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup.

Detention and Unfair Trial

Vafaei Sani was detained in March 2020. The charges against him included “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and destruction of public property”. His verdict has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was upheld on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “highly unjust” by human rights activists and groups.

Call to UN

The appeal to stop the boxer's capital punishment follows a 2023 letter to the global human rights chief for rights, backed by more than 100 rights specialists and organizations, calling for action to stop the athlete’s execution.

Execution Crisis

Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in the nation, which has attained alarming levels”. In the year 2023, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% rise on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nine hundred seventy-two executions, representing the maximum count since the year 2015. More than 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Activists and protesters are focus, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 protests. Specialists say the regime have employed the death penalty to quell opposition, create fear among the citizenry and strengthen their control on rule.