December 30 – Earlier this week Iranian authorities ordered a Dubai-bound flight to land, preventing the family members of outspoken Iranian football legend Ali Daei from leaving the country.
Daei has repeatedly voiced his support for anti-government protests that erupted late last summer following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police.
Daei’s wife and daughter were removed from the Mahan Air flight after it was ordered to land on Iran’s Kish Island, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. No reason for their removal from the flight was given, said Daei.
IRNA said Daei and his family engaged in “backing anti-revolutionary groups and rioters”, and “calling for strikes”.
Daei enjoys god-like status in Iran following a career with spells in the Bundesliga at Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. He captained Iran, playing 149 times for his country and scoring a record 109 goals. But his fame has not protected him from the wrath of the Islamic regime that has carried out a brutal crackdown on protesters and civil society.
Iranian authorities closed a jewellery shop and a restaurant owned by Daei, according to state media, after he had posted he would shut them for a number of days out of solidarity with protestors.
Daei did not attend the World Cup in Qatar in an act of protest against the regime.
Since the start of the nationwide protests, human rights groups say more than 400 people have been killed by government forces and dissenters are also facing the prospect of execution in increasing larger numbers. Professional football player Amir Nasr-Azadani is reportedly under threat of being executed with authorities accusing him of “sedition against the authorities” and “war against God”.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1738706396labto1738706396ofdlr1738706396owedi1738706396sni@i1738706396tnuk.1738706396ardni1738706396mas1738706396
