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The Football players' union has issued a formal statement following reports that Iranian footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani is facing execution in his country.
The international football players’ union [FIFPRO] has said that it is “sickened” by reports that an Iranian footballer has been sentenced to execution, despite a denial from the Iranian judiciary.
A statement released by FIFPRO on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, via a tweet read: “FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country,”
The statement comes following reports from foreign-based news outlets that 26-year-old Iranian league footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in connection with the death of several security officers amid the continued anti-government protests in the country.
However, a senior judiciary official in Iran has denied that Nasr Azadani has received a death sentence.
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Asadollah Jafari, the judiciary chief of Isfahan, where the footballer was arrested, said on Sunday, December 11, 2022, that an indictment carrying the charge of “accessory to moharebeh” has been communicated to him, but a sentence is pending further investigation by a Revolutionary Court as per Aljazeera.
Moharebeh, or “waging war against God”, is a charge that carries the death penalty.
But after a preliminary sentence is issued, the case can be appealed at the Supreme Court.
Iranian Footballer Nasar Azadani reportedly facing execution charges amid anti-government protests
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According to Jafari as per Aljazeera, the footballer was arrested on November 16, 2022, two days after three members of the security forces were killed.
The official said Nasr Azadani is one of nine suspects and claimed security camera footage shows he was a member of an “armed group that operated in a networked and organized manner with the intent of fighting the basis of the Islamic Republic establishment”.
After reports of Nasr Azadani’s potential execution sentence emerged, a number of prominent current and former footballers expressed solidarity and called for executions to end.
Iran’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 journey
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At this year's World Cup in Qatar, the Iran team stood silent when the national anthem was played prior to the opening group game 6-2 defeat to England on November 21.
Their gesture was reportedly understood to be in support of the protests against the government in Iran.
They managed a 2-0 win against Wales in the group before narrowly losing their final match against 1-0 against USA, as they exited the tournament at the group stage.
Iran Unrest Timeline
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According to reports, Iran has so far executed at least two people arrested during unrest linked with the protests that began in mid-September this year after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the country’s morality police for alleged non-compliance with a mandatory dress code for women.
While Rights groups have also warned more executions could be carried out soon.
Majidreza Rahnavard, who was convicted of killing two members of the security forces in Mashhad, was publicly executed on Monday, December 12, with the judiciary releasing images of him being hanged from a crane as a crowd watched on.
Both Rahnavard and Mohsen Shekari, who had been executed days earlier, were convicted of moharebeh, a sentence which had been confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Speaking after Rahnavard’s execution on Monday, judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei defended the judiciary’s actions, saying judges should ignore the criticism.
“We must do our work while considering the law and considering God as our witness, and not in the least be concerned about the reproach of those who reproach,” he said in a meeting with other judiciary officials as per Aljazeera.
Amnesty International said Rahnavard’s execution shows the Iranian judiciary is a “tool of repression sending individuals to the gallows to spread fear and exacting revenge on protesters daring to stand up to the status quo”.
Meanwhile, the European Union imposed new sanctions on Tehran on Monday for its response to the protests and for sending drones to Russia.
Tehran had blacklisted more EU and United Kingdom officials earlier the same day in relation to their support for the protests.
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