More than 20 Olympic medallists, trainers and other global sports figures have put their names to a statement calling for a halt to the death penalty of a champion boxer and coach, who is facing execution in the nation.
Amid rising international outrage over the nation's increasing application of capital punishment as a tool of suppression, the strongly worded letter condemns the authorities's decision to confirm the execution order of the boxing champion.
The athlete, 30, from the city in the northeastern region, was arrested for being involved in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has passed half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and confined in isolation.
“Competition is designed to inspire optimism, unity, and bravery,” the signatories wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his beliefs is a blatant attack on these principles and a warning to all sportspeople who dares to speak out.
The letter noted that the athlete's circumstances was part of a pattern and highlighted the country's history of putting to death competitors for their beliefs, for example Habib Khabiri, leader of the football side, and Fourouzan Abdi, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In 2020, Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old Iranian sports titleholder, was put to death.
Additional endorsers to the statement consist of Tracy Edwards, who captained the inaugural women's squad in a round-the-world competition and was the initial female to receive a renowned nautical honor; the previous captain of the national squad an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the national team for the global tournament.
The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The allegations against him entailed “spreading corruption on Earth through arson and ruin of public property”. His verdict has been reversed on two occasions but on the fourth of October it was confirmed on the third attempt. His legal proceedings was criticized as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies.
The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s death sentence is subsequent to a earlier statement to the United Nations official for human rights, signed by over a hundred rights specialists and groups, urging measures to prevent the sports figure's death.
As per reports, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has reached alarming dimensions”. In 2023, officials put to death at least 853 people – a 48% surge on 2022. Last year, data showed 972 capital punishments, marking the maximum count since 2015. In excess of 800 people have been sentenced so far in 2025.
Dissidents and protesters are targets, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Experts say the government have used the death penalty to quell opposition, instil fear among the public and strengthen their control on power.
A tech analyst and business strategist with over a decade of experience in global markets, specializing in digital transformation and innovation.
