The international campaign to save Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani has received renewed attention after the Iranian boxing champion, who remains on death row, was honoured with a prestigious human rights award in London.
The 31-year-old athlete and political prisoner received the Magnitsky Award for Outstanding Human Rights Activist on Thursday, recognising his opposition to repression despite years of imprisonment and the threat of execution.
Although he could not attend the ceremony because he remains detained at Vakilabad prison in north-eastern Iran, Vafaei Sani sent a written message accepting the honour on behalf of people who have suffered for demanding political freedom.
He dedicated the recognition to prisoners, victims of torture and individuals sentenced to death for their political beliefs, describing them as part of a generation paying an enormous price for the struggle for freedom.
“I accept this award in the name of all those who, for the ‘crime’ of aspiring to a free Iran, have been imprisoned, tortured, threatened, or sentenced to death; in the name of my comrades in the resistance units and the generation that is paying the price of freedom with their lives,” he said.
The boxer also insisted that intimidation would not force him or his fellow activists to abandon their convictions.
“The regime demands repentance, televised confessions and surrender from us. But our answer is clear: ‘We will never surrender; we will never submit to humiliation,'” he added.
Iranian boxer sentenced to death three times
Vafaei Sani’s imprisonment dates back to 2020, when he was arrested over his alleged involvement in the nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations that swept across Iran in 2019.
Authorities accused him of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), an opposition movement that has challenged the country’s ruling establishment.
The boxing champion and coach was subsequently convicted of “corruption on Earth”, a serious charge under Iranian law that can carry the death penalty.
He received a death sentence for the third time in September 2024 following proceedings that Amnesty International described as a grossly unfair trial.
His situation became even more precarious when Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the sentence on 4 October 2025, leaving him facing the possibility of execution.
Since his arrest, reports have also emerged that he has been subjected to torture and lengthy periods in solitary confinement.
His case has generated appeals from international athletes, human rights organisations, legal experts and other campaigners, many of whom have demanded his immediate release and the cancellation of the death sentence.
The latest award has provided another platform for those seeking to prevent his execution, particularly as concerns grow over the treatment of political prisoners in Iran.
Magnitsky award draws attention to political persecution
The award presented to Vafaei Sani carries a history connected to the fight against government corruption and human rights abuses.
The Magnitsky awards were established in 2015 and named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who died in police custody after exposing alleged corruption involving government officials.
The annual recognition honours journalists, politicians, activists and other individuals whose work has contributed to the defence of human rights.
Sir William Browder, head of the Magnitsky Justice Foundation and chairman of the awards committee, said Vafaei Sani’s circumstances reflected the dangers confronting many Iranians who challenge the authorities.
He stressed that keeping international attention on the imprisoned boxer could help protect his life.
“Most important, Mohammad Javad is still alive,” Browder said.
“That is why this award matters. Every time the world pays attention, it becomes harder to kill him quietly.”
The comments highlight the significance of public awareness campaigns in cases where prisoners face execution and international organisations have limited ability to influence domestic judicial decisions.
Read also: Lionel Scaloni extends Argentina stay to 2030 as Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. earns Portugal U17 debut
https://swiftreportnow.com/lionel-scaloni-extends-argentina-stay-to-2030/
Iran records more than 700 executions in 2026
The concerns surrounding Vafaei Sani come amid reports of a sharp rise in executions across Iran.
The Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights reported that at least 710 people had been executed in the country since the beginning of 2026. The figure included 79 political and religious prisoners.
In an October report, the organisation also documented at least 106 death sentences imposed on people detained during January’s protests.
At least 35 of those prisoners had already been executed, according to the report.
The situation at Vakilabad prison, where Vafaei Sani is being held, has also attracted attention. Five prisoners linked to the protests have reportedly been executed there, while another 15 remain under death sentences.
These figures have intensified concerns among international campaigners about the use of capital punishment against people accused of participating in anti-government activities.
Human rights advocates have continued to call for greater international pressure to prevent further executions and secure the release of prisoners facing politically motivated charges.
Seven Iranian athletes reportedly face execution
The situation has become particularly alarming for the country’s sporting community, with seven Iranian athletes identified as being at risk of execution.
Vafaei Sani is among those named by Human Rights for Sport, an organisation that campaigns against human rights abuses involving athletes.
Its founder, Zohreh Abdollahkhani, warned that the circumstances facing the sportspeople were extremely serious.
“The situation is really dire … We have seven athletes at risk of execution now, including Vafaei Sani,” she said.
The deaths of other Iranian sports figures have reinforced fears that athletes accused of involvement in anti-government protests could face severe punishment.
Ali-Sina Mostafavi, a mountaineer, was executed on 14 October following the protests.
His execution came after the death of taekwondo athlete Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi earlier that month. Gholamreza Khani Shakarab, a mixed martial arts fighter, had also been hanged in May.
The deaths have raised further questions about the safety of athletes who become involved in political demonstrations or are accused of supporting opposition movements.
Abdollahkhani said the campaign surrounding Vafaei Sani’s award had attracted support from people with different political positions.
She noted that even individuals who disagreed with his political views were joining calls for his case to receive greater attention.
“Even people who don’t support his political view are supporting him to be heard,” she said.
“I find it very inspiring that different political groups are coming together to say no to execution.”
Vafaei Sani outlines his vision for Iran’s future
Despite the threat to his life, the imprisoned boxer used his acceptance message to explain the political future he wants for his country.
He called for a free and democratic Iran where citizens can choose their leaders through fair voting and where women and men enjoy equal rights.
He also demanded an end to discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or personal belief, insisting that no individual should face imprisonment or execution because of political opposition.
His message reflected his determination to continue advocating for change despite the personal consequences he has faced since his arrest.
“I remain steadfast in my pledge, and I will not bow before oppression until the people of Iran are free,” he declared.
The Magnitsky recognition has placed renewed international focus on his case, while campaigners continue to demand that Iranian authorities overturn his sentence.
For Vafaei Sani, however, the award has not changed his immediate circumstances. He remains behind bars at Vakilabad prison, with the death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court.
His supporters are hoping that continued international attention will help prevent his execution and bring an end to the persecution of athletes and other political prisoners in Iran.
About The Author
