Iran’s footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani is at risk of execution for supporting women’s protests

A news that generates shock while the Qatar 2022 World Cup takes place. The Iranian soccer player Amir Nasr-Azadaniun is in danger of being executed. The information was released by the Iranwire medium. “The judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran intends to hang him”, detailed the source.

Given this, many current figures and former Iranian soccer players have spoken out rejecting the idea. Likewise, the International Federation of Associations of Professional Soccer Players (FIFPRO) has requested through its social networks the lifting of “immediate” of the death penalty threat with which the Iranian soccer player Amir Nasr-Azadani could be punished by the Iranian authorities.

“FIFPRO is shocked by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedoms in his country. We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment.” reads the statement.

Amir Nasr-Azadani was arrested for publicly defending the rights and freedoms of women in Iran.

Nasr-Azadani has played for various clubs in Iran and during the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons he did so with Tractor Sazi, a team for which the Spanish coach Paco Jémez has just signed.

This Monday, Majid Reza Rahnavard, a wrestler, was hanged after being sentenced to death in a day-long trial for the same reasons.

The president of the Supreme Court of the province of Isfahan, Asadolá Jafarí, affirmed on Sunday that Amir Reza Nasr Azadani has been accused of “moharebeh” or “enmity with God” for his alleged participation in the murder of three security agents on 16 November in the city of Isfahan.

There are nine accused of those murders and “To date, the indictment has been issued for these defendants but no sentence has been passed against them.”, according to Yafarí.

“The defendant (Azadani) has openly confessed to his criminal actions. There is also video from local cameras and there is sufficient documentation that this person is a member of an armed group, and the indictment has been issued based on these documents.”Yafari added.

With information from EFE.