Human Rights for Sport warns of execution threats against eight Iranian athletes

The Human Rights for Sport organization has warned that eight athletes are facing the threat of execution in Iran. This follows widespread protests in January 2026 (Dey 1404), which resulted in significant casualties and arrests within the athletic community.

Zohreh Abdollahkhani, a board member of the organization and former member of the Iranian women's ice skating national team, reported at a conference in Berlin that at least 217 athletes were killed by direct fire during the protests, while over 100 others were detained. The list of eight athletes facing execution includes individuals arrested during the recent protests as well as those who have been imprisoned in previous years.

Reports highlight specific casualties from the unrest, including football coach Mehdi Lavasani, former junior hapkido champion Sajjad Rahimi, and former taekwondo champion Amirali Zarei. Abdollahkhani has criticized the silence of the International Olympic Committee and various global federations regarding the crackdown on Iranian athletes.