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In excess of 20 Olympic medal winners, coaches and other international athletes have put their names to a statement calling for a stop to the capital punishment of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is facing execution in the country.

Increasing Worldwide Condemnation

Amid increasing worldwide anger over the nation's escalating use of capital punishment as a means of repression, the forcefully phrased appeal denounces the authorities's ruling to uphold the execution order of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The boxer, 30, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for being involved in nationwide protests in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an opposition group. He has passed five years in prison, where he has been abused and kept in solitary confinement.

“Sport is intended to promote optimism, unity, and bravery,” the supporters expressed. “The capital punishment of a champion for his political views is a clear violation on these principles and a admonition to all sportspeople who dares to speak out.

Record of Putting to Death Competitors

The letter noted that the boxer's circumstances was not an isolated one and emphasized Iran’s past of executing sports champions for their convictions, such as a football captain, captain of the football side, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the female volleyball side. In 2020, a wrestling champion, a young Iranian sports titleholder, was put to death.

Other signatories to the letter include a sailing champion, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a global yacht race and was the pioneering lady to earn a esteemed nautical honor; the former leader of the soccer side an athlete; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the global tournament.

Detention and Unjust Proceedings

The boxer was arrested in early 2020. The charges against him entailed “causing deterioration on Earth through incendiarism and ruin of public property”. His sentence has been overturned on two occasions but on October 4 it was upheld on the third attempt. His court case was condemned as “deeply biased” by advocates and groups.

Appeal to International Body

The urging to prevent the boxer's death sentence follows a earlier appeal to the UN high commissioner for human rights, signed by over 100 human rights experts and groups, demanding measures to stop the athlete’s execution.

Capital Punishment Escalation

According to findings, there is an “capital punishment escalation in the nation, which has reached horrific dimensions”. In 2023, the government executed at least eight hundred fifty-three people – a nearly half rise on the previous year. The year before, statistics showed 972 executions, representing the maximum count since 2015. More than hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Dissidents and protesters are focus, particularly in the aftermath of the the year 2022 uprising. Analysts say the Iranian authorities have used the capital punishment to stifle dissent, generate apprehension among the public and tighten their control on power.