SouthernWorldwide.com – A significant coalition of athletes, including esteemed Olympians, has penned an open letter denouncing Iran’s alarming record and ongoing intentions to execute its prominent athletes. This united front emerges as the planned execution of Iranian boxing champion Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani draws near.
Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani is recognized not only as a boxing champion and coach but also as a political prisoner currently facing an imminent threat of execution in Iran, orchestrated by the ruling Ayatollah.
He was apprehended by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in March 2020. His arrest followed his involvement in the nationwide protests that erupted in November 2019, initially triggered by a sudden increase in fuel prices. The Iranian judiciary has since charged him with “corruption on earth,” a charge that carries the death penalty in the country.
The letter, spearheaded by the legendary women’s tennis icon Martina Navratilova and British Olympic gold medalist swimmer Sharron Davies, urges global governing bodies and sports organizations to intervene decisively to prevent Sani’s execution.
“Currently, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a 31-year-old boxing champion and coach, remains on death row,” the letter explicitly states.
“We implore the United Nations, international sports federations, and governments worldwide to act with urgency to safeguard the lives of Iranian dissidents, including its athletes. The global community must not remain passive while Iran systematically silences its champions. We stand in solidarity with the victims. We stand for justice.”
The athletes’ appeal also draws attention to previous instances where Iran has executed its star athletes. This includes the case of 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, whose execution in March sparked widespread international condemnation.
“Since mid-March, Iran has been subjected to a horrific spree of executions targeting political dissidents, representing one of the most severe crackdowns witnessed in the past three decades. Numerous individuals have been executed following unfair trials and coerced confessions. The theocratic regime, evidently fearful of another uprising, has cynically exploited the cover of war to suppress growing dissent. Several victims of these executions were protesters arrested during the January 2026 uprising. Among them were Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old national wrestling champion, and Sasan Azadvar Joonaghan, a 21-year-old karate champion,” the letter details.
“Tragically, Iran possesses a grim and well-documented history of executing athletes for their convictions. This includes Habib Khabiri, the former captain of Iran’s national football team, who was executed due to his affiliation with the PMOI. Furthermore, Forouzan Abdi, the captain of Iran’s national women’s volleyball team, was executed alongside an estimated 30,000 political prisoners during the infamous 1988 massacre. More recently, in 2020, Iranian wrestling champion Navid Afkari was executed after his participation in peaceful protests in 2018.”
The impactful letter boasts a total of 24 athlete signatories. Notably, this group includes nine Olympians and five Iranian athletes, lending significant weight and personal perspective to their collective plea.
