Top News

Sharron Davies today called the transfer of a champion boxer facing the death penalty in Iran to a notorious 'hanging prison' a "triumph of evil".

The Olympic swimmer and women's rights campaigner has battled to save the life of political prisoner Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani, who is facing the noose for his alleged opposition to the rule of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But this weekend the boxer was moved to solitary confinement in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, a place infamous for its mass hangings.

He is at imminent risk of execution. All communication between the prison and the outside world has also been disconnected.

The 30-year-old was arrested in January 2020 and has been subjected to brutal torture. He has been imprisoned since then and was sentenced to death on charges of supporting the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and "spreading corruption on Earth through arson and destruction of public property". His trial has been condemned as "grossly unfair" by human rights activists and organisations, including Amnesty International.

Sharron has joined with other sporting superstars including tennis legend Martina Navratilova and round the world sailor Tracy Edwards, in making an impassioned plea to the United Nations to apply pressure and save the boxer's life.

Pressure has also been applied by the National Council of the Resistance of Iran, which is fighting to establish a free and democratic government in the country.

It is unknown if the UN has done anything but the transfer to Vakilabad is being seen as a step towards carrying out the death sentence imminently.

Sharron, who recently launched the Women's Sports Union to 'promote and protect' female sport and is set to become Baroness Davies, said today: "This move shows once again that the theocracy in Iran has no intention of adhering to the civilised norms of the rest of the world.

"Despite international condemnation at the highest levels Javad Vafaei has been transferred to the Vakilabad Prison which is notorious for its secret mass executions.

"Every time the international community allow this murderous regime to get away with executing its opponents is a triumph for evil."

Amnesty International has warned Iran is facing an "execution crisis of horrific proportions." In 2023, Iranian authorities carried out at least 853 executions-an increase of 48 percent compared with 2022. The following year, Amnesty documented 972 executions, the highest figure recorded since 2015. In 2025, more than 800 people have already been put to death.

Political prisoners and government critics have been particularly vulnerable, especially in the wake of the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Experts argue that the Iranian government has increasingly relied on the death penalty as a tool to silence dissent, intimidate the public, and consolidate state power.

A spokesman for the National Council of Resistance of Iran said: "The Iranian Resistance calls on the United Nations and its relevant bodies, the European Union and its member states, and all human rights defenders to take urgent action to save the life of Mohammad Javad Vafaei."