Iranian boxer on death row vows to resist after receiving London rights prize

Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, an Iranian boxing champion and coach, accepted a major human rights prize from his prison cell on Thursday night. The 31-year-old is currently on death row in Vakilabad prison in north-eastern Iran. He has been sentenced to death three times for his role in the 2019 democracy protests. His acceptance of the Magnitsky award for outstanding human rights activist marks a high-profile challenge to the Iranian regime while he remains incarcerated.

In a written statement released from prison, Vafaei Sani declared that he would never surrender to the regime's demands for repentance. He described the award as a tribute to the generation paying the price of freedom with their lives. The boxer specifically rejected the regime's call for televised confessions and surrender, stating that his answer to humiliation was clear.

Vafaei Sani was arrested in 2020 and accused of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. Amnesty International labeled his 2024 trial as grossly unfair. The Iranian supreme court upheld his third death sentence on October 4, 2025. Since his arrest, the boxer has endured torture and extended periods of solitary confinement. His case has drawn criticism from international sports figures and legal experts who are calling for his release.

The Magnitsky awards, established in 2015, honor activists and journalists in the field of human rights. The prizes are named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who died in police custody after exposing corruption. Sir William Browder, head of the Magnitsky Justice Foundation, stated that Vafaei Sani’s case represents the plight of many Iranians facing execution. Browder noted that keeping the boxer alive and visible makes it harder for the state to kill him quietly.

The award arrives during a period of rising executions in Iran. The Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights reports that at least 710 people have been executed since the start of 2026. This total includes 79 political and religious prisoners. An October report from the organization documented 106 death sentences against detainees from the January protests. Of those, 35 have already been executed.

Vakilabad prison, where Vafaei Sani is held, has seen five executions linked to the protests. Fifteen other prisoners in that facility are currently facing death sentences. The situation for imprisoned athletes has become a focal point of international concern. Zohreh Abdollahkhani, founder of Human Rights for Sport, stated that seven athletes are now at risk of execution, including Vafaei Sani.

Recent months have seen the execution of several prominent sports figures. Ali-Sina Mostafavi, a mountaineer, was executed on October 14. His death followed the killing of taekwondo athlete Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi earlier that month. Gholamreza Khani Shakarab, a mixed martial arts fighter, was hanged in May. These deaths have intensified calls for the protection of athletes who are viewed as role models in the country.

Abdollahkhani noted that the award has united people across different political lines. She said that even those who do not support Vafaei Sani’s political views are backing his cause to ensure he is heard. This broad support highlights the specific threat posed by the execution of well-known figures in the sporting community.

Vafaei Sani outlined his vision for Iran in his message to the award committee. He described a desire for a democratic system where people vote freely and where men and women are equal. He expressed a wish for an end to discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or belief. He concluded by stating he would not bow before oppression until the people of Iran are free.