Iran protests: Prominent actresses arrested, football team refuses to sing national anthem at World Cup
The government-opposing anti-hijab demonstrations in Iran have been going on for more than two months now. The protests entered their fourteenth week, this week, and things are bloodier than ever.
What is happening now? According to reports, amid the ongoing turmoil in Iran, two popular Iranian actresses Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi were arrested today (November 21) for publicly expressing solidarity with anti-government protests in the country.
Both of them were accused of collusion and acting against Iran's authorities and were detained after being summoned by prosecutors probing their "provocative" social media posts.
Katayoun Riahi, one of the first actresses who appeared in public without mandatory hijab after the killing of #MahsaAmini, has been reportedly arrested. pic.twitter.com/o7Jxu0UV7j
— Ali Hamedani (@BBCHamedani) November 20, 2022
What was their 'crime'?
- Ghaziani was bareheaded, facing the camera without speaking and then turning around and binding her hair into a ponytail. She removed her headscarf on a busy street, in a video, which appears to have been filmed in a shopping street.
- Riahi, 60, was arrested for appearing in an interview in September on London-based Iran International TV without wearing a hijab. Iran International TV is an outlet despised by the regime, AFP reported.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which is also headquartered outside the nation, reported that 15,820 demonstrators have been jailed and that 344 people have died, including 52 children.
Iran Football Captain Ehsan Hajsafi speaks up in support of the protestors
Ehsan Hajsafi, the captain of the football team of Iran, has stated that he would be pleased to see his team act as a catalyst for change in a nation where demonstrations against the Tehran government are only becoming worse.
This is the #Iran national football team, they wear black out of solidarity to the people of Iran. #MahsaAmini #مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/1yJFVdnfGE
— FreeIran2022 (@IranIran2022) September 28, 2022
"We must acknowledge that things are not right in our nation and that the people are not content. Despite the fact that we are present, we must still respect them and be their voice." He added.
After his statement, the Iranian footballers showed support to the protesters by refusing to sing the national anthem during their teams's group-stage match of FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Monday.
BREAKING: #BNNQatar Reports
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) November 21, 2022
In order to support the Iranian Women's Revolution, #Iran's national team players have chosen not to sing the national anthem during a #WorldCup2022 match.#MahsaAmini #JinaAmini #FifaWorldCup #QatarWorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/OnMxKxQwN8
What is the government's reaction?
The organisers of the "riots," according to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, failed to rally the protestors.
Since the demonstrators "are too inferior to be able to harm the establishment," the authoritarian dictator declared on Saturday that the "riots" will end.
"Now that the organisers have failed to get the people to the scene, they want to tyre the officials, but they are mistaken since these mischiefs make the people detest them more," Khamenei remarked in a speech during a meeting with a group of individuals from the central city of Esfahan.
How did the protests start in Iran?
Protests started in Iran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the infamous morality police of the country. She was arrested for not wearing her hijab properly, and she died on September 16, 2022. Her death led to protests huge protests from the capital Tehran to small cities like Karaj and later moved to toher parts of the country.