Iran sentences footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani to death for campaigning for women's rights

In the past two weeks, the Iran government has executed two men, both 23-year-olds, for 'committing crime against god'. Both of them were part of the anti-hijab protests, which began on September 16, 2022, with the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Mahsa was arrested by the morality police for not wearing her hijab properly, and she died while in their custody. Since then, the protests in Iran haven't stopped. 

The Iran government, who couldn't care less about the sanctions and criticisms they are receiving from the rest of the world, has announced the execution of footballer Amir Nasr Azadani for 'campaigning for women's rights'.  

Who is Amir Nasr Azadani? Azadani, a 26-year-old, has played for Iran's national youth team. Apart from the national youth team, he has played in Iran's premier league for teams like Rah-Ahan Tehran FC, Tractor SC and Gol-e Rayhan. However, the defender, according to media reports, hasn't played professional football since 2017.

What is his 'crime'? Azadani was arrested in September, and the Iran government sentenced him to death yesterday, December 13. 

• Allegedly, he was taking part in an "armed riot" in Isfahan, Iran, in which three members of the security forces were killed. Out of the three, two were members of Basij, one of Iran's government forces.
• He was charged with "rebellion, membership in illegal gangs, collusion to undermine security and therefore assisting in moharabeh (enmity against god)". 

FifPro, the international players union, said on Tuesday it was “shocked and sickened" by this decision. 

As of December 13, according to the Human rights group HRANA, the death toll of protesters in Iran has reached 493. 

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