The world union of professional footballers, FIFPRO, said it was “shocked and sickened” by the prospect of Iranian footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani being sentenced to death in connection with three-month-long protests in the country.
Nasr-Azadani was arrested in Isfahan two days after allegedly participating in an “armed riot” in which three security agents were killed on September 16, according to Isfahan’s judiciary chief Abdullah Jafari, as quoted by Iran’s ISNA news agency on Sunday.
According to Jafari, the 26-year-old was charged with “rebellion, membership in illegal gangs, collusion to undermine security, and thus assisting in moharabeh” — or “enmity against God,” a capital offense in the Islamic republic.
“FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani is facing execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country,” the union said late Monday on Twitter.
“We stand in solidarity with Amir and demand that his sentence be commuted immediately.”
The warning comes after a global outcry over Iran’s recent execution of two young men arrested in connection with the protests.
Nasr-Azadani, who represented Iran at the Under-16 level, began his football career with Tehran club Rah-Ahan, with whom he made his debut in Iran’s top-flight league.
The defender spent time with Tractor SC under former Wales coach John Toshack and is now with FC Iranjavan Bushehr.
Former Iranian international star Ali Karimi, a vocal supporter of the protests, tweeted in support of the footballer, saying, “Do not execute Amir.”
The Iranian national team competed in the World Cup in Qatar, and they staged their own protest by refusing to sing the national anthem during their first match against England.
However, they reverted to singing the anthem for subsequent matches against Wales and the United States.
Protests have erupted in Iran following the death on September 16 of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who died after being arrested by morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women.
According to Amnesty International, 11 people have been sentenced to death as a result of the protests, with at least another nine people, including Nasr-Azadani, facing the death penalty.
Iran calls the protests “riots,” and claims that foreign adversaries are encouraging them.
Voria Ghafouri, a prominent former international star, was arrested in Iran last month after supporting the protests and condemning the crackdown but was later released on bail.
