Iranian athletes and celebrities have been among those to publicly support the protests since Mahsa Amini’s passing.
While getting ready to play England in their inaugural World Cup game later, Iran’s national football squad must do so amid ongoing demonstrations against Mahsa Amini’s passing in various places throughout the country.
One of the largest threats to the governing mullahs in recent memory has arisen from the upheaval that followed the murder of the 22-year-old lady while she was under the morality police’s care in Iran.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 362 individuals, including 56 children, have been killed in the crackdown on the protesters.
Iranian athletes and celebrities have been among those who publicly support the demonstrations since Miss Amini’s passing.
Several current and past Iranian athletes declared earlier this month that they had no alternative but to rebel against their nation and demand that Iran is expelled from the World Cup.
And defender Ehsan Hajsafi made history by being the first Iranian national team player to publicly endorse domestic anti-government demonstrations while representing his country at the World Cup in Doha.
“They ought to be aware of our support for them. We also back them. And we feel for them in terms of their circumstances,” the AEK Athens player said at a news conference.
“We must acknowledge that our nation’s conditions are poor and that its citizens are not content. Even though we are present, we should still represent them and show them respect.
Sardar Pashaei, a former world junior wrestling champion, and current national team coach said: “We contacted FIFA and said enough is enough.
“We think Iran is murdering demonstrators.
“Until we have a democratic government like every other country in the world, they should be outlawed.”
Mahdi Jafargholizadeh, a former karate champion who claims to have been tortured by government agents in 2004 before fleeing while in Germany, emphasized the primary reason he thinks there hasn’t been greater global attention on Iran.
He declared that “football is the finest way to share our voices.”
How could anyone hear us when there is no internet connection between Iran and the outside world?
Despite pressure from the government, Sardar Azmoun, the standout forward for the Iranian national football team and one of the players nominated to the team competing in Qatar, has spoken out.
He wrote on Instagram, “At worst, the national team will release me.”
“No issue. For even one hair on the heads of Iranian ladies, I would give it up. This article won’t be removed. They are free to act as they like. Long live Iranian women! Shame on you for killing so casually.
Legendary Iranian footballer Ali Daei has also made clear that he supports the demonstrations.
“My hometown Iran means: my family, my father, and mother, my children and fellow countrymen are my brothers and sisters, and I will stay with them forever,” the former player and manager wrote on Instagram.
“Fix the Iranian people’s problems instead of oppressing them, using violence, or imprisoning them.”
Ali Karimi, a former team captain for Iran, has been sharing his thoughts with his 14 million Instagram followers.
“Hoping for the restoration of our homeland Iran,” he wrote on the platform.
