Iranian Football Star Amir Nasr-Azadani Faces Execution After Campaigning For Women’s Rights

Amir Nasr-Azadani, an Iranian footballer, is facing execution in his own country for lobbying for women’s rights during anti-government riots after the killing of Mahsa Amini.

Protests against the government have erupted in Iran, triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in detention in September after being held for allegedly failing to meet the country’s Islamic dress code.

FIFPRO, the players’ union, issued a statement on Monday, December 12th, saying, ”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.’We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment.’

The Islamic Republic hanged a man in public on Monday after he was convicted of murdering two members of the security forces, the second execution in less than a week of persons participating in anti-government rallies in Iran.

‘Majid Reza Rahnavard was hanged in public in (the holy Shi’ite city of) Mashhad this morning… He was sentenced to death for ‘waging war against God’ after stabbing to death two members of the security forces,’ the judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported.

Mizan released photographs of Rahnavard’s execution at daybreak, showing him hanging from a construction crane, his wrists and feet chained, and his head covered with a black bag.

The US State Department criticized Iran for the death of Rahnavard on Monday.

‘We denounce this draconian treatment in the strongest terms. These harsh sentences and now the first public execution… are meant to intimidate Iran’s people. They’re meant to suppress dissent,‘ State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at a briefing.