Death Sentence for Another Iranian Athlete Draws Backlash; Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani Charged with ‘Corruption on Earth’
The issuance of a death sentence for Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani has sparked reactions. The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday, December 26, that the athlete was sentenced to death for participating in a peaceful gathering.
Journalist Masih Alinejad also posted on Saturday, sharing a photo of Mr. Vafaei Sani wearing boxing gloves, and referenced his conviction, writing “We could not save the hope of an Iranian wrestler. Perhaps world champions can help us this time.”
Babak Paknia, the lawyer for Mr. Vafaei Sani, reported last week that he was convicted by the Fourth Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad on the charge of “corruption on earth” and sentenced to “death by hanging.” According to his lawyer, the judiciary’s verdict is subject to appeal to the Supreme Court.
There is limited information about Syed Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani. He is reported to be 26 years old, and some sources have written that he was active in boxing in Mashhad and holds championship titles.
He was arrested in March 2020 for what was described as “intentional burning and destruction of specific places, including a government punishment building.”
The November 2019 protests were among the most widespread protests against the Islamic Republic. Around one hundred cities witnessed protests that were met with severe suppression by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government. Some accounts put the death toll at over one thousand, but the Islamic Republic has not yet released precise casualty figures. In the past year, several protesters have been sentenced to death or lengthy prison terms for their participation in these protests.
Human rights organizations say the rights of these accused have not been respected, and most of them confessed under torture and pressure, even against themselves.
Three months ago, the “November People’s International Court” was held in London over several days to investigate the role of Iranian government officials in the bloody suppression of protests, with Voice of America providing full coverage.
Source: Voice of America
