Ali-Sina Mostafavi, an Iranian mountaineer who documented his climbs to some of the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest, was executed on October 14. He had been arrested in April following anti-government protests that had begun months earlier. Mostafavi's execution came after the killing of Siamak Jamshidi Kheirabadi, a taekwondo athlete, in early October and Gholamreza Khani Shakharab, a martial arts fighter who was executed in May.
Increased Concerns in the Sports Community
The Human Rights Group for Sports, composed of former Iranian athletes in Oslo, has warned that at least six other athletes are also facing execution. These individuals include Ali Pishavarzadeh, a swimmer, and Ehsan Hosseinpour, a football player, who were arrested during the January protests. Additionally, Mohammad Javad Vafaee Sani, a boxer who was arrested in 2020 for participating in protests the previous year, is on the execution list. His appeal was rejected last year.
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Challenges in Communicating with Prisoners
Dr. Zahra Abdollahkhani from the Human Rights Group for Sports stated: "The Iranian sports community is under a lot of pressure. We managed to draw attention and awareness for one of the individuals sentenced to death and temporarily halted his execution, but this was only a temporary stop, and I am worried about all of them." Communication with athletes facing the death penalty has been challenged due to security threats against their families. Abdollahkhani added: "In one case, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law have been arrested, and the phone lines of the entire family are under surveillance.
Overall, the Human Rights Group for Sports has reported that in January, 217 Iranian athletes were killed due to direct gunfire, and over 100 others were arrested. Four members of the European Parliament also wrote a letter to FIFA before the World Cup expressing their concerns about the situation of Iranian athletes on the brink of execution, but Abdollahkhani announced that they have not received a response from FIFA.
Meanwhile, FIFA stated that it is aware of the concerns regarding the situation of Iranian athletes and thanked all stakeholders for their continued cooperation and awareness in this matter. Abdollahkhani also criticized the International Olympic Committee, stating that changes in its management have made it difficult to pursue cases through human rights and safety structures. The International Olympic Committee rejected these statements, declaring that its human rights and safety teams are fully active and that they are deeply concerned about the situation of athletes affected by events in Iran.
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