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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, mentors and other world-class competitors have endorsed a appeal urging a end to the execution of a boxing champion and coach, who is on death row in the nation.

Escalating Worldwide Condemnation

Amidst rising international outrage over the nation's increasing application of executions as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed letter censures the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, thirty, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in national uprisings in the year 2019 and indicted of backing an resistance movement. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been mistreated and kept in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to inspire hope, togetherness, and courage,” the supporters stated. “The capital punishment of a titleholder for his opinions is a direct assault on these values and a admonition to any competitor who ventures to speak out.

Record of Putting to Death Athletes

The appeal pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not an isolated one and emphasized the country's history of putting to death athletes for their beliefs, including Habib Khabiri, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, leader of the female volleyball side. In two thousand twenty, an athlete, a 27-year-old Iranian competitor, faced the death penalty.

Other endorsers to the letter comprise a yachting pioneer, who skippered the pioneering female-only team in a round-the-world competition and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a prestigious yachting trophy; the ex- captain of the national squad a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Arrest and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in March 2020. The allegations against him comprised “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and destruction of public property”. His verdict has been overturned on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and bodies.

Appeal to International Body

The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s execution comes after a earlier letter to the UN high commissioner for rights, backed by over 100 advocates and groups, urging measures to prevent the competitor's execution.

Death Penalty Surge

According to data, there is an “death penalty surge in Iran, which has reached horrific levels”. In 2023, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% increase on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nearly a thousand deaths, marking the peak figure since the year 2015. Over 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Specialists say the Iranian authorities have utilized the death penalty to quell dissent, create fear among the citizenry and tighten their hold on rule.