ON THE ROPES

Boxing Champ Faces Execution as Retrial Rejected

The Iranian government is estimated to have executed over 1,500 people this year.

A champion boxer imprisoned in Iran for taking part in countrywide democracy protests is at risk of execution after his request for a retrial was denied by the Iranian government. Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, 30, has spent five years in prison after participating in March 2020 protests against the country’s fuel hikes—accused by the government of “spreading corruption on earth through arson and destruction of public property.” Since his imprisonment, Vafaei Sani has endured extreme physical and psychological torture, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The country’s Supreme Court turned down his request for a retrial on Monday, after previously upholding his death sentence on October 4. His mother was “unexpectedly” granted a visit to see Vafaei Sani on Monday—a sign that his execution may be imminent. “His life is in grave danger; the execution of his death sentence could occur at any moment,” said Shahin Gobadi, an NCRI official. Iran has historically executed people for anti-government beliefs, and this year has been especially violent. Nearly 1,800 people have faced capital punishment in the country this year alone, according to Iran Human Rights Monitor.