🔗 Share this article Elite Athletes Call on Iranian Authorities to Halt Death Sentence of Boxing Champion Over 20 Olympic champions, mentors and other global sports figures have put their names to a appeal demanding a halt to the execution of a boxing champion and trainer, who is facing execution in the country. Increasing Global Anger During rising global condemnation over the nation's escalating use of executions as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded appeal denounces the government's verdict to uphold the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani. Vafaei Sani, three decades old, from Mashhad in the northern province, was detained for being involved in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and charged of backing an dissident organization. He has endured 60 months in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation. “Competition is designed to promote optimism, unity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The capital punishment of a champion for his beliefs is a direct assault on these values and a warning to all sportspeople who attempts to speak out. Record of Putting to Death Sports Figures The statement noted that the boxer's circumstances was not an isolated one and underscored Iran’s history of putting to death sports champions for their views, for example a football captain, skipper of the national football team, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the national women’s volleyball team. In 2020, an athlete, a 27-year-old national wrestling champion, faced the death penalty. Further endorsers to the appeal comprise Tracy Edwards, who led the pioneering female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to receive a renowned nautical honor; the former captain of the Australian football team Craig Foster; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the international competition. Arrest and Unfair Trial Vafaei Sani was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him included “spreading corruption on Earth through fire-setting and damage of public property”. His ruling has been reversed multiple times but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was denounced as “deeply biased” by advocates and bodies. Call to United Nations The call to stop the athlete's capital punishment follows a earlier statement to the United Nations official for rights, endorsed by in excess of a hundred advocates and organizations, urging intervention to avert the sports figure's execution. Death Penalty Surge Based on reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has achieved alarming dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, the government put to death at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a 48% surge on 2022. In the prior period, statistics showed 972 capital punishments, marking the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. More than 800 people have been put to death so far in 2025. Political prisoners and protesters are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 uprising. Analysts say the regime have employed the executions to quell opposition, instil fear among the population and reinforce their grip on rule.