Iran boxer sentenced to death at 'imminent' risk of execution: rights groups |
An Iranian boxer sentenced to death on charges of membership of an outlawed group is at imminent risk of execution after his request for a retrial was rejected, rights groups and the exiled opposition said on Wednesday.
The World Boxing Council and sporting luminaries including former tennis star Martina Navratilova have called on Iran to spare the life of Mohammad Javad Vafaei-Sani, 30, a silver medallist in the national boxing championship.
Vafaei-Sani was arrested in 2020 over involvement in 2019 protests, charged with membership of the People's Mujahedin (PMOI, also known by the Persian acronym MEK) organisation, which is banned in Iran, and........