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Iranian footballer faces death penalty over participation in anti-hijab protests
Iran Anti-Hijab Protests: In November, Amir Nasr-Azadani, 26, was arrested after participating in the protests.
An Iranian professional soccer player is facing death penalty for participating in the nationwide protests. In November, Amir Nasr-Azadani, 26, was arrested after participating in the protests and charged in connection with the death of an an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Newsweek reported.
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Nasr-Azadani reportedly participated in the protests only briefly and chanted anti-government slogans along with others. Nasr-Azadani was then charged with a crime known as moharebeh- “enmity against God” which carries the death penalty as punishment.
FIFPRO, the Netherlands-based international union for professional soccer players, spoke out against Amir Nasr-Azadani's death penalty 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."
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“We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment,” the organization said in a tweet.
Protests erupted in Iran following the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini from injuries allegedly suffered while in the custody of Iran's "morality police." Mahsa Amini was reportedly arrested during a visit to the capital city of Tehran for not wearing her hijab properly.
