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Voices are rising in the world of Iranian sport to denounce the repression of demonstrations which follow the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, on September 16, 2022, after her arrest by the Iranian morality police.
« It is crucial for us to raise global awareness and spread our voice by giving the world a clear view of the systematic brutality carried out by the Islamic regime of Iran. » Kimia Alizadeh, the first Olympic medalist in her country’s history, has risen to the plate in recent days on Instagram. The one who had won bronze in taekwondo in Rio in 2016 then gave up defending the Iranian colors at the Tokyo 2021 Games, joining the refugee team. Alizadeh is, however, one of the few Olympians to openly display her anger on social media, after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by the morality police in Tehran September 13 and died September 16 in hospital.
« I’m not afraid of being ousted »
Handball player Razieh Janbaz decided to say ” goodbye national team “. In a long message on Instagram, the player speaks about censorship, its past and present torments: ” Now I am sad for my Iran, I am a protester, my voice is louder next to my brothers and sisters, and we want to manage the situation, we want to be heard, we children of Iran have once, and the God we worship never said that the innocent and those who protest against this situation must be killed… »
The death of Mahsa Amini and the events that followed have also thrown the very popular footballer Sardar Azmoun off his feet. In a since-deleted Instagram story, the Bayer Leverkusen striker challenged the Iranian authorities: The ultimate punishment is to be expelled from the national team, which is a small price to pay for even a single lock of hair from an Iranian woman. It will never be erased from our consciousness. I’m not afraid of being ousted. Shame on you for killing the people so easily and long live the women of Iran. Before a preparation match against Senegal, during the national anthem, Azmoun and his teammates wore a black parka covering the shirt of the Iranian selection (Team Melli).
Support of Iranian football legends
Protesters calling for Team Melli’s support can also count on the aura of former international striker Ali Karimi. The latter multiplied the messages to the demonstrators, on Twitter: “ When I watched some of the videos, I saw veiled women accompanying people in the protests. I wanted to say thank you. We have no problem with other people’s clothes and beliefs and we are together, side by side for Iran. »
Ali Daei, another Iranian football legend, who scored 109 goals in 149 appearances for the national team, was also moved: Instead of repression, violence and arrest of the Iranian people, solve their problems! »
Mahsa Amini’s death sparked protests in which ” about 60 people were killed since September 16, according to a latest report given by the Iranian news agency Fars. The NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Oslo, spoke on Monday of ” at least 76 dead».