Professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani is soon to have his life come to an end because he was “campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country”. The Iranian soccer player has been sentenced to death after protesting against the death of Mahsa Amini, according to Iran Wire.
FifPro, the international players union, said it was “shocked and sickened” at the reports and called for the punishment to be revoked.
“We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment,” it said.
He was arrested in November in relation to the killing of a police colonel and had been accused of “waging war against God” and will be hanged.
There have been widespread protests in Iran since the death of 22-year-old Amini, who died in custody after being detained by morality police on suspicion of breaking the country’s strict rules around head coverings. The families of Iran’s World Cup soccer team were threatened with imprisonment and torture if the players fail to “behave” ahead of the match against the USA.
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Following the refusal of Iranian players to sing the nation’s national anthem in their opening match against England, the players were called to a meeting with members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and were told that their families would face “violence and and torture” if they did not sing the national anthem or if they joined any political protest against the Tehran regime. The players made sure to sing that anthem after that news was handed down.
Nasr-Azadani last played for Persian Gulf Pro League side Tractor, but has not played professionally since his last appearance in November 2017. According to Iran Wire, he is one of 28 Iranians who have been sentenced to death for their parts in the protests.
Among those 28 are three children, who have all been accused of “corruption on Earth.”
