A message revealed today, Thursday, that dozens of human rights activists, prominent lawyers, and former prosecutors sent a letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, urging him to intervene to try to prevent the execution of an Iranian boxer. The letter, which bore 83 signatures from figures including former International Criminal Court President Sang-Hyun Song and more than ten current and former UN human rights officials and prosecutors, stated, "We urge you to make an urgent public call for the Iranian authorities to halt the imminent execution of Mohammad Javad Fafayi Sani."
Reuters was unable to obtain a comment from the Iranian judiciary on the case. However, his lawyer, Babak Baknia, stated that the judiciary had not notified them of the ruling. A spokesperson for Volker Turk said, "We have received information about this case and are following it and gathering additional information."
Iranian authorities informed Mohammad Javad Fafayi Sani, who was imprisoned for his role in the anti-government protests in 2019, yesterday, Wednesday, about the conclusion of the death sentence issued against him, according to the letter dated July 19. Iran was shaken by large protests last year that erupted following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022 while in custody of the morality police. Since then, at least seven people have been executed under verdicts related to the unrest, which Iranian rulers have accused their enemies of instigating and fueling.
