By Joern Reher
The protests in Iran are not abating – and ex-Hertha star Ali Daei (53) is right in the middle. Since the beginning of the demonstrations, the Iranian has supported the protest movement in the country after the death of young Mahsa Amini († 22).
On the 40th day after Amini’s death, her funeral was held, which was attended by crowds in the Iranian city of Saqqez. The Iranian government arrested ex-Bayern star Ali Daei, among others.
As part of the funeral service, shots from the “security forces” could even be heard!
Specifically, Daei is said to have stayed at the Kurd Hotel the night before together with Hamed Lak (31, a still active soccer player who plays in Iran). Residents gathered in front of the building. Daei and Lak were then taken to the government guest house by security forces. There they were placed under the strict security supervision of the secret service.
Hertha’s Andreas Neuendorf (2nd from left) and Pal Dardai (3rd from left) cheer with Ali Daei (r.) Photo: hrad
The security forces are said to have opened fire on the people afterwards – this can be heard in a video. The footage was released by the human rights organization Hengaw. This is an independent human rights organization reporting on human rights abuses in Iran.
Ali Daei is emphatically committed to women’s rights in Iran and therefore supports the protests. This was triggered by the death of the young Kurd Mahsa Amini (22), who was arrested for “inappropriate dress” and beaten to death by the Iranian vice squad.
That’s why Daei’s passport was recently confiscated, but ultimately returned to him. Next to Ali Daei support too Ali Karimi (43/ formerly Bayern and Schalke) and the current Bundesliga star Sardar Azmoun (27/Leverkusen) the protests.
Daei played for Arminia Bielefeld from 1997 to 1998, for FC Bayern from 1998 to 1999 and for Hertha BSC from 1999 to 2002 in the Bundesliga. The former striker scored 19 goals and six assists in 107 Bundesliga games.
Now he is fighting for women’s rights in Iran – and has to fear that the Iranian government will take drastic measures again and again.