Magnitsky Awards
Winner’s Bio

Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani is an Iranian boxing champion, coach and political prisoner whose case has become a symbol of the persecution of peaceful dissent and the suppression of fundamental human rights in Iran.

Born in Mashhad, Iran, Vafaei Sani was arrested in 2020 for participating in nationwide anti-government protests in November 2019. Accused of supporting an opposition movement, he was charged with “corruption on earth” and sentenced to death following judicial proceedings widely condemned by international human rights organisations as grossly unfair.

Since his arrest, he has been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, prolonged solitary confinement and repeated threats of execution. Although Iran’s Supreme Court overturned his death sentence twice, he was sentenced to death for a third time in September 2024, with the verdict upheld in October 2025.

His continued imprisonment and persecution have drawn widespread international condemnation. Prominent athletes, Olympic medallists, human rights defenders and legal experts have called for his immediate release and the annulment of his death sentence.

Vafaei Sani’s case highlights the courage of those who stand against political repression and the urgent need to protect freedom of expression, human dignity and the rule of law.