The Iranian regime is pressuring footballers who support the protests led by women. But the long-range stars continue, including Leverkusen Sardar Azmoun.
A riot for freedom and against oppression, it also thrives on celebrities supporting it. Celebs who stand up against the regime and dictators bravely raise their voices, even in the face of harsh reprisals.
Sports stars who are known from the media and reach millions of people via their social channels also play an important role.
Uprising in Belarus unsuccessful
That was the case in Belarus, when the people rebelled against Alexander Lukashenko after rigged presidential elections in mid-2020. The uprising was crushed with violence and other repressions, Lukashenko remains in office and supports the Russian despot Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.
Difficult news situation
Since mid-September 2022, women in Iran in particular have been rebelling against the regime. The trigger was the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody. She had allegedly violated the dress code that prevails in the Islamic Republic.
Since then, women have been demonstrating courageously against the oppression by the mullahs, who have their henchmen respond with violence.
Whether the regime is in danger of falling, or whether women might be able to gain more self-determination under the current government, cannot be judged seriously from a distance. It is not known what exactly is happening in Iran, how many deaths and injuries the uprising has claimed so far.
Also affected Ali Daei?
Iran’s propaganda cannot be trusted, independent journalists working in the Islamic Republic are in constant danger, and several are said to be arrested.
The social networks and exiled media like the one based in London “Iran International“operated by members of the opposition, are important information channels.
So reported “Iran International“that Hamid-Reza Ali-Asgari, a footballer for Tehran-based and very popular FC Persepolis, had been arrested for a post supporting the insurgents. Ali Daei, an Iranian football legend who played for Arminia Bielefeld, FC Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC in Germany around the turn of the millennium, is said to have had his passport confiscated upon entry, which is why he is now no longer allowed to leave the country. That reports “Iran International“ citing an eyewitness.
arrests and solitary confinement
Former international Hossein Mahini is said to be in “Evin prison“ are being held in solitary confinement, considered the worst prison in Iran. He, too, is said to have been arrested simply because of statements of solidarity with the insurgent women’s movement.
FC Persepolis players who are said to have shown solidarity with the former professional of their club and wore a black ribbon during a league game were also summoned and interrogated, according to social media.
It is dangerous to speak your mind in Iran, even more dangerous than for Iranians abroad. Nevertheless, even a Sardar Azmoun, who plays football for Bayer Leverkusen, has to think carefully about what he posts on Instagram. After all, his parents still live in Iran.
“Shame on you all!”
A post in which he accused the regime of murder was therefore deleted again. “Ashamed of you all, how carelessly people are murdered. Iranian women live long.”Azmoun had written.
On Monday (October 3rd, 2022) the man from Leverkusen spoke up again. “Iran’s elite” was the translation of a story on Instagram. Azmoun thus recalled the protests at Sharif Technical University, which had been brutally cracked down on the previous day.
Long range player
Even as Iran’s regime disrupts internet access during the uprising, which has been tagged with the #IranProtests hashtag, the message is likely to have spread widely. Azmoun has five million followers on Instagram, which is around 400,000 more than Mehdi Taremi, who plays for FC Porto.
Taremi, who meets with his team on Tuesday in the Champions League on Leverkusen with his national team colleague, had published a posting with the same wording. Alireza Jahanbakhsh from Feyenoord Rotterdam also published the posting. It reached 1.8 million followers for him.
Iran has qualified for the World Cup in Qatar and will face the USA, among others, at the tournament. The duel was already considered highly explosive at the time of the draw, but it has now been expanded to include a delicate note.
Sanctions demanded by FIFA
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the spiritual leader of Iran, blamed not only Israel but also the United States for the protests on Monday. Meanwhile, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has announced further sanctions as a result of the events at Sharif University.
The Iranian women’s rights movement “Open Stadiums” called for sanctions affecting sport on Friday (September 30, 2022). In a letter to the world governing body FIFA, she demanded that Iran be excluded from the World Cup in Qatar, partly because of the brutal suppression of the current protests.
FIFA, to whose president Gianni Infantino the letter was addressed, has not responded. The chances that the world association will comply with the request are extremely slim. Sanctions are difficult for FIFA. Although the Russian national team was excluded from qualifying for the World Cup at the end of February, the Russian Football Association is still a member of FIFA.