World Cup: More than 700 detainees released in Iran after national team’s victory over the Welsh

There is more than just sports in this World Cup. Following its team’s 2-0 victory over Wales on Friday, Iran announced on Monday, through the judiciary’s agency Mizan Online, the release of more than 700 prisoners.

“By special order of the head of the judiciary, after the victory of the football team (…) over the Wales national team, 709 detainees were released from various prisons in the country,” the agency clarifies, adding that among these are “some persons arrested during recent events.”

By “events,” the agency is referring to protests sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who died after being arrested by police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

Authorities have reported thousands of people arrested in connection with the protests, with the judiciary saying they have filed charges against more than 2,000 people. Foreign human rights organizations report a much higher number of arrests. Tehran, which views most of these demonstrations as “riots,” in particular accuses foreign forces of being behind this movement that seeks to destabilize the Islamic Republic.

This decision is made in a very tense situation, on the eve of the decisive meeting with the United States for reaching the 1/8 finals of the World Cup. On Sunday, Iran protested to FIFA over the American federation’s Instagram post in which the Iranian flag was amputated from the word “Allah” that normally appears in the center. One official even called for Team USA to be kicked out of the World Cup.

Before the final day, Carlos Queiroz’s Iran is in second place with 3 points, one distance behind England. The United States is following him at some point. The winner will see the rest of the contest.