Iranian boxer sentenced to DEATH for a third time after being convicted of ‘corruption on earth’ during anti-government protests

Iranian boxer Mohammad Javad Vafaei-Sani once again faces execution after being sentenced to death for a third time for participating in protests in the country in 2019. 

The 29-year-old was arrested in March 2020 and accused of setting fire to a government building, which he denied. Spanish outlet AS, claim that he was subsequently subjected to ‘severe physical and psychological torture’.

Vafaei-Sani’s case bears a chilling resemblance to wrestler Navid Afkari, who was hanged in 2020 after allegedly killing a state security guard during anti-government protests in the summer of 2018. 

In December 2021, Vafaei-Sani was convicted of ‘corruption on earth’, the most serious charge under Iran’s penal code, one punishable by death. 

His lawyer, Babak Paknia, wrote on X: ‘Despite the Supreme Court’s overturning of the previous verdict, the majority opinion of the investigative judges (consultants to the Branch 3 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court), in opposition to the Supreme Court judges, has again issued a death sentence for ‘corruption on earth’. This ruling can be appealed.’

Anti-government protests have taken place across the country in recent years. The authorities have responded by clamping down on participants 

Vafaei-Sani would be the latest in a growing list of Iranian athletes who have been executed by the government or killed during protests in recent years. 

In addition to Afkari, who said he was tortured into making a false confession, Iran Wire report three other such cases, including volleyball player Ali Mozafari, who was killed during protests in September 2022. 

Footballer Mohammad Ghaemifar was fatally shot by regime forces a month later after being targeted and then cornered in an alley. 

Thirty-two-year-old bodybuilder Ehsan Ghasemifar was killed during protests in December 2022. The outlet claim that he was ‘surrounded by security forces while livestreaming on Instagram’. His family were reportedly pressured to say his death was due to a ‘heart attack.’

Ahead of the Paris Olympic Games, following the arrest of another Iranian athlete, Saman Pashaei, the International Olympic Committee said they ‘continue to monitor the situation very closely.’

Wrestler Navid Afkari, who was hanged in 2020 after allegedly killing a state security guard during protests in 2018

The 27-year-old’s case drew the attention of many in Iran as well as onlookers from around the world

‘The IOC EB [Executive Board] reserves the right to take any appropriate action relating to the participation of the Iranian NOC [National Olympic Committee] and athletes in the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, depending on the developments in this situation.’ A statement on the IOC’s website read. 

However, there has been no further statement from international sporting organisations following the developments in Vafaei-Sani’s case.