More than twenty Olympic medallists, coaches and international sporting figures have united in demanding Iran immediately halt the planned execution of boxing champion and coach Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.
International Sporting Community Mobilises
The strongly worded letter, signed by tennis legend Martina Navratilova and Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, condemns the Iranian regime's decision to uphold the death sentence against the 30-year-old athlete. Vafaei Sani, from Mashhad in north-east Iran, was arrested for participating in nationwide protests in 2019 and accused of supporting the opposition group People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK).
The signatories wrote in their urgent appeal: "Sport is meant to inspire hope, unity, and courage. The execution of a champion for his political views is a direct assault on these values and a warning to every athlete who dares to speak out."
Five Years of Imprisonment and Torture
Vafaei Sani has endured five years in prison since his arrest in March 2020, where he has faced torture and prolonged solitary confinement according to human rights organisations. The charges against him included "spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of public property".
His death sentence has been overturned twice, but on 4 October it was upheld for the third time. Human rights groups including Amnesty International have condemned his trial as "grossly unfair".
Pattern of Executing Athletes
The letter highlights that Vafaei Sani's case is not isolated, noting Iran's disturbing history of executing athletes for their beliefs. Previous victims include:
- Habib Khabiri, captain of the national football team
- Fourouzan Abdi, captain of the national women's volleyball team
- Navid Afkari, a 27-year-old wrestling champion executed in 2020
Other signatories to the letter include Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, former Australian football captain Craig Foster, and Bahram Mavaddat, who played in Iran's 1978 World Cup squad.
Iran's Escalating Execution Crisis
This appeal comes amid growing international outrage over Iran's escalating use of capital punishment as a tool of oppression. According to Amnesty International, Iran is experiencing an "execution crisis" that has reached horrific proportions.
In 2023, authorities executed at least 853 people - a 48% increase on 2022 figures. Last year saw 972 executions recorded, marking the highest number since 2015. More than 800 people have already been executed in 2025 according to current records.
Human rights experts state that Iranian authorities have systematically used the death penalty to suppress dissent, instil fear among the population and tighten their grip on power, particularly following the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising.
The athletes' letter concludes with an urgent plea: "We call on the United Nations, international sports federations and governments to act immediately to save the life of Mohammad Javad. The world must not stand by while Iran silences its champions."
