Born in Iran · Nationality Iranian — Sport / boxing and human rights advocacy

Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani

Also known as: Seyed Mohammad-Javad Vafaie Sani, Mohammad Javad Vafayi-Sani, محمدجواد وفایی ثانی

Updated on 15 November 2026

Sport Whistleblowers, victims and witnesses

Iranian boxer and coach imprisoned since 2020 and sentenced to death in a disputed case.

Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani is an Iranian boxer arrested in connection with the 2019 protests. He was repeatedly sentenced to death for 'corruption on earth'; two sentences were overturned, while a later ruling was upheld in 2025. Human rights groups have criticised alleged abuses and unfair proceedings. He received a Magnitsky human rights award in November 2026 while still in custody.

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1Documented controversy

5Sources

1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2020–2025

2020-2025: sentenced to death three times for “corruption on earth” after the 2019 protests

Criminal conviction

Arrested in Mashhad in 2020 after the November 2019 protests, the boxer was accused of arson and damage to public buildings. Sentenced to death for “corruption on earth”, he saw the Supreme Court overturn the sentence twice, including in June 2024, before a third death sentence, handed down in September 2024, was upheld on 4 October 2025. A stay of execution was reported on 22 December 2025. Rights groups denounce coerced confessions and an unfair trial; in November 2026 he received a Magnitsky Human Rights Award.

State of the evidence: The lawyer’s accounts were reported by HRANA, Iran Human Rights and international media; no full named judgment was examined.
Legal status — source text: Death sentence upheld on 4 October 2025; stay of execution reported on 22 December 2025.
Attribution: A capital conviction for alleged arson and property destruction during protests.

Sources · 5

[1]
HRANADeath Sentence of Mohammad-Javad Vafaei Sani Upheld by Supreme Court6 October 2025MediaHigh reliability
[2]
HRANADeath Sentence of Seyed Mohammad-Javad Vafaie Upheld by the Supreme Court16 December 2025MediaHigh reliability
[3]
Iran Human RightsMohammad Javad Vafayi-Sani6 December 2025Investigative journalismHigh reliability
[4]
The GuardianBoxer on death row in Iran vows ‘not to bow before oppression’ after winning rights prize13 November 2026MediaHigh reliability
[5]
Radio Free Europe / Radio LibertyIranian Protester’s Death Sentence Struck Down By Supreme Court8 June 2024MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 November 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

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Controversia profile, updated 15 November 2026. Latest version: https://controversia.info/en/fiche/mohammad-javad-vafaei-sani