By Amr Gohar
Washington DC, – A group of internationally recognized athletes and sports figures has issued a joint declaration condemning what they describe as an escalating wave of executions in Iran, including cases involving young athletes and dissidents.
Among the signatories are former world No. 1 tennis champion Martina Navratilova, British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, and Australian football figure Craig Foster, alongside several Iranian Olympians and national champions.
In their statement, the athletes highlighted the executions of 19-year-old wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi and 21-year-old karate champion Sasan Azadvar Joonaghan. They also expressed concern over boxer Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, who they say remains under a death sentence. The declaration calls on the United Nations, international sports organizations, and democratic governments to take immediate action to prevent further executions and protect the lives of Iranian dissidents.
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“As athletes, we have learned to confront adversity, persevere in the face of pressure, resist injustice, and uphold the values of human dignity,” the statement said. “We stand with the victims. We stand for justice.”
The appeal comes ahead of a major march scheduled for June 20 in Paris, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Organizers say the event is expected to attract more than 100,000 participants from across Europe and other regions.
In a related statement, the Athletics Commission of the NCRI called on FIFA and organizers of the 2026 World Cup to condemn what it described as the Iranian government’s persecution of athletes and to suspend Iran from FIFA competitions until Iranian athletes can participate in sports free from political pressure and repression.
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The commission further alleged that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has maintained extensive influence over Iran’s sports sector, particularly football, and accused authorities of using sports institutions as tools of political control. It also claimed that numerous Iranian athletes have faced arrest, imprisonment, exclusion from competition, or death over the past several decades because of their political views or public dissent.
Iranian authorities have consistently rejected allegations of systematic human rights abuses and maintain that their judicial actions are carried out in accordance with Iranian law. The statements by the athletes and the NCRI add to ongoing international debate over human rights and political freedoms in Iran.
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