🔗 Share this article Olympians Call on Iran to Stop Death Sentence of Boxing Star Over 20 Olympic medal winners, coaches and additional global sports figures have put their names to a letter calling for a stop to the death penalty of a boxing titleholder and coach, who is on death row in the country. Growing Worldwide Condemnation Amid rising global condemnation over Iran’s expanding employment of capital punishment as a means of repression, the powerfully expressed statement censures the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the athlete. The boxer, 30, from the city in the northern province, was taken into custody for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in 2019 and indicted of supporting an resistance movement. He has endured five years in incarceration, where he has been mistreated and confined in seclusion. “Competition is meant to promote optimism, unity, and courage,” the endorsers wrote. “The execution of a titleholder for his beliefs is a clear violation on these principles and a warning to every athlete who dares to express dissent. Record of Putting to Death Athletes The statement noted that Vafaei Sani’s circumstances was not unique and emphasized the nation's history of sentencing to death athletes for their convictions, including a national team leader, captain of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, skipper of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, a wrestling champion, a 27-year Iranian competitor, was also executed. Other endorsers to the letter comprise a yachting pioneer, who led the pioneering all-female crew in a international sailing event and was the first woman to be awarded a prestigious sailing award; the previous skipper of the soccer side a sports advocate; and a sports figure, who was in the country's selection for the 1978 World Cup. Arrest and Flawed Legal Process The athlete was detained in March 2020. The accusations against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and ruin of public property”. His ruling has been annulled on two occasions but on 4 October it was upheld on the latest review. His legal proceedings was denounced as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies. Call to International Body The urging to stop Vafaei Sani’s execution follows a earlier letter to the United Nations official for human rights, endorsed by over one hundred human rights experts and entities, demanding intervention to avert the athlete’s death. Capital Punishment Escalation As per findings, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has reached shocking levels”. In 2023, the government put to death at least 853 people – a nearly half increase on 2022. The year before, records showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, representing the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. Over 800 people have been executed so far in 2025. Political prisoners and opponents are victims, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022's demonstrations. Analysts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to quell protest, create apprehension among the population and reinforce their hold on authority.