The previous nationwide crew participant has been charged with ‘spreading propaganda’ as authorities proceed a crackdown on anti-government protests.
Iranian safety forces have arrested common soccer participant Voria Ghafouri on fees of getting “tarnished the fame of the nationwide crew” and spreading “propaganda” in opposition to Iran.
Ghafouri, who’s of Kurdish origins and has strongly supported the protests which have rocked the nation since September, was arrested after a membership coaching session on Thursday, the Fars information company reported.
Ghafouri has represented Iran’s nationwide soccer crew up to now, however was not referred to as up for this yr’s World Cup in Qatar, the place the nationwide crew shunned singing the nationwide anthem at their first match in opposition to England on Monday.
Ghafouri, who has performed for Esteghlal, one in every of Iran’s largest golf equipment, is among the many most distinguished figures arrested in a widescale crackdown on protesters, together with within the western Kurdish areas from which he hails, with rights teams saying dozens have been killed during the last week alone.
Iran has seen greater than two months of demonstrations, sparked by the loss of life in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, herself of Kurdish origin, after she was arrested for an alleged breach of the nation’s strict costume code for girls.
On his social media accounts, Ghafouri had strongly backed the protests and reported visiting Kurdish-populated areas of western Iran to precise solidarity with households of these killed through the protests.
Kurdish-focused rights group Hengaw, based mostly in Norway, additionally mentioned he had been arrested, sharing an Instagram image that the participant had posted of himself in conventional Kurdish costume.
Soccer participant Voria Ghafouri, from Sanandaj and a former member of Iran’s nationwide crew who now performs for Foolad F.C, was kidnapped by Iranian authorities authorities.
Thursday, November 24, 2022#JinaAmini pic.twitter.com/4atp80DBup— Hengaw Group for Human Rights (@Hengaw_English) November 24, 2022
Ghafouri received explicit reward for visiting the younger daughter of a girl who had been killed within the protests and giving her a pill as a present.
“Voria stood behind his folks and paid for it. We also needs to stand behind him and never let him be alone,” tweeted United States-based activist Masih Alinejad.
Former Iranian worldwide footballer Ali Karimi, one other outspoken supporter of the protests, additionally posted the identical photograph on his Twitter account in assist of the participant.
“For the honourable Voria,” he wrote.
Ghafouri was previously Esteghlal’s captain earlier than his contract was terminated and he moved to Foolad Khuzestan.