A coalition of prominent international athletes has issued a forceful appeal to Iranian authorities, calling for an immediate halt to the planned execution of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a champion boxer and coach currently on death row.
The open letter, endorsed by more than twenty Olympic medalists, coaches, and sports figures, condemns the upheld death sentence as a severe injustice. Signatories include tennis legend Martina Navratilova, champion swimmer Sharron Davies, and former Australian football captain Craig Foster.
Vafaei Sani, 30, was arrested in March 2020 for his alleged involvement in nationwide protests the previous year. He was charged with offenses including “spreading corruption on earth” through property damage. Despite his conviction being overturned twice, a court reaffirmed the death penalty in early October. Human rights groups have denounced the legal proceedings as fundamentally unfair, reporting that the athlete has endured torture and prolonged solitary confinement during his five-year imprisonment.
The athletes’ letter frames the case as part of a broader, alarming pattern. “Sport embodies hope, unity, and courage,” the statement reads. “To execute a champion for his political beliefs is an attack on these very principles and a stark warning to any athlete who considers speaking freely.” The appeal urges global sports federations, national governments, and the United Nations to intervene.
This case echoes previous instances where Iranian athletes have faced execution for their political views or activism. The letter references the 2020 execution of champion wrestler Navid Afkari, which provoked international condemnation, as well as past cases involving national team captains in football and volleyball.
The appeal follows a separate 2023 petition to the UN from over a hundred human rights organizations concerning Vafaei Sani’s plight. It comes amid reports of a dramatic surge in executions within Iran. Recent data indicates the country carried out nearly 1,000 executions last year, the highest number in nearly a decade, with hundreds more reported in the current year. Analysts observe that authorities are increasingly using capital punishment as a tool to suppress dissent and instill public fear, particularly following the widespread 2022 protests.