A group of current and former Iranian athletes believe they have no choice but to turn on their own country, alleging state-sponsored violence and discrimination against ordinary Iranians, particularly women. Former champions in sports such as karate, judo, and wrestling, as well as those living in exile and based in their country, have joined forces to take a stance. They addressed a letter to FIFA in collaboration with a Spanish law firm, requesting that their nation be removed from the coming World Cup. “Iran is different to any other country,” former wrestling world junior champion and national team coach Sardar Pashaei said.
“A football federation should be autonomous, but it’s a joke in Iran.” Everything is under the supervision of the Revolutionary Guards, whom the US has designated as a terrorist organisation… “We called FIFA and told them that enough was enough. We believe Iran is killing protesters. “They should be prohibited until we have a democratic government comparable to any other in the world.”
When reached, FIFA declined to comment on the letter, and Iranian officials did not reply to demands for comment on the claims levelled against them. Despite a fatal security crackdown and increasingly stern threats, large rallies in Iran have lasted for seven weeks, in one of the most audacious challenges to the country’s clerical leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian authorities have accused Iran’s arch-enemies, the United States and Israel, as well as local operatives, of orchestrating the disturbance in order to destabilise the country. The demonstrations were inspired by the murder of Mahsa Amini, 22, in September, after she was imprisoned by Iranian morality police for wearing inappropriate attire.
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