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More than two dozen Olympic medallists, trainers and additional international athletes have endorsed a letter urging a halt to the execution of a champion boxer and instructor, who is sentenced to die in the nation.

Increasing International Outrage

During increasing international outrage over the nation's escalating use of the death penalty as a tool of oppression, the powerfully expressed statement condemns the authorities's ruling to maintain the capital punishment of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.

The athlete, 30, from Mashhad in the northern province, was taken into custody for taking part in countrywide demonstrations in the year 2019 and charged of aiding an resistance movement. He has spent five years in incarceration, where he has been abused and kept in isolation.

“Athletics is intended to inspire faith, togetherness, and courage,” the signatories wrote. “The capital punishment of a champion for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to speak out.

Pattern of Putting to Death Athletes

The statement noted that the athlete's circumstances was not an isolated one and highlighted the country's past of executing competitors for their beliefs, for example a national team leader, leader of the football side, and a volleyball captain, leader of the women's volleyball squad. In the year 2020, a wrestling champion, a young national competitor, was also executed.

Other signatories to the letter include a sailing champion, who captained the pioneering women's squad in a global yacht race and was the initial female to be awarded a renowned nautical honor; the former captain of the national squad an athlete; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the national team for the international competition.

Arrest and Flawed Legal Process

Vafaei Sani was arrested in March 2020. The charges against him included “promoting decay on Earth through fire-setting and damage of state assets”. His sentence has been overturned twice but on the fourth of October it was upheld on the latest review. His court case was denounced as “grossly unfair” by advocates and bodies.

Call to UN

The appeal to stop the boxer's execution follows a previous appeal to the UN high commissioner for rights, endorsed by more than 100 advocates and groups, calling for measures to stop the competitor's execution.

Execution Crisis

According to reports, there is an “execution crisis in the country, which has achieved shocking dimensions”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities sentenced at least 853 people – a nearly half surge on 2022. In the prior period, records showed nearly a thousand executions, marking the peak figure since two thousand fifteen. In excess of hundreds of people have been put to death so far in 2025.

Activists and opponents are targets, especially in the wake of the 2022 demonstrations. Experts say the regime have utilized the capital punishment to stifle protest, instil fear among the public and strengthen their control on authority.