Iranian government supporters, security forces confront protesters at World Cup

Fans supporting the Iranian government harassed protesters while stadium security guards grabbed flags, T-shirts and the Islamic Republic during Iran’s second match at the World Cup on Friday. Tensions rose as other items expressing support were seized.

Some fans were stopped by stadium security from bringing the pre-revolutionary Persian flag to the match against Wales at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium. Others who carried such flags were torn from their hands by pro-government Iranian fans, who also wore T-shirts with the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” of the country-grabbing protest movement. shouted insults against

Unlike the first match against England, the Iranian players sang along to the national anthem before the game, causing some fans in the stadium to cry, whistle and boo.

The national team is under close scrutiny for statements and gestures regarding nationwide protests that have ravaged Iran for weeks.

A shouting match erupted outside the stadium between fans chanting “Women, Life, Freedom” and those shouting back “Islamic Republic!”

A small mob of men surrounded three women outside the stadium who were interviewing foreign media about the protest, disrupting the broadcast as they angrily chanted “Islamic Republic of Iran!” Many female fans appeared upset as Iranian government supporters yelled at them in Farsi and filmed close-ups on their phones.

Mariam, a 35-year-old woman who, like other Iranian fans, refused to give her surname for fear of government retaliation, filmed her face as men surrounded her screaming and honking her horn. Her face had the words “Woman Life Freedom” painted on it.

Mariam and her friends wore hats emblazoned with the name of outspoken former Iranian footballer Boria Ghafouri, who was arrested in Iran on Thursday for criticizing Iranian authorities and spreading propaganda against the government. She said supporters of the Iranian government had taken the hat off their heads.

“We want to raise awareness about his arrest and the women’s rights movement. It’s simple,” said Maryam, who lives in London but is from Tehran. “I am not here to fight anyone, but people attack me and call me a terrorist. It’s just that it doesn’t matter.”

Iranian Canadian says he was threatened by police

Two Iranian Canadians spoke to CBC’s Thomas Daigle outside the stadium before the game.

“Football is currently the least important topic in the minds of the Iranian people. The most important thing is to get rid of the corrupt regime and gain their basic human rights,” one of them said. .

Another added that she and fellow protesters were “threatened by the police, but we are doing our best to be a voice for the people.”

A third unidentified protester, who spoke to the CBC before entering the stadium, held up the United States team jersey and wore a winged wing with free-flowing hair, symbolizing the protesters’ women, life and freedom theme. Revealed a protest T-shirt depicting a woman.

Fierce protesters in Iran vent their anger at social and political repression and state-mandated headscarves or hijabs for women. What began as the death of 22-year-old Martha Amini, who had been in the Islamic Republic, quickly evolved into calls for the dissolution of the Islamic Republic itself. At least 419 people have died since the protests erupted, according to Iranian human rights activists in the watchdog group.

The turmoil has overshadowed the start of Iran’s World Cup campaign. Before that match, which Iran lost 6-2 to her, the players remained silent during the anthem and did not celebrate the two goals. They celebrated enthusiastically as they sang along to the national anthem when they scored in a 2-0 win over Wales on Friday.

Only “normal” flags are allowed

USA’s Aye Shams, who was watching the game against Wales with her brother, said security guards confiscated her flag because it had the word ‘woman’ on it.

“We are first generation Americans. Our parents were born in Iran. We are here to enjoy the game and provide a platform for the Iranian people fighting the Islamic regime,” said Shams. said.

Stadium security guard Zeinrabda Alwa confirmed that authorities had been ordered to confiscate anything other than the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Whether we are talking about Iran, Qatar or any other country, we are only allowed to bring in regular flags,” she said.

An angry group of Iranian government supporters yelled at Elyas Doerr, a 16-year-old Iranian living in Arizona who wore a Persian flag as a cloak until he took it off and put it in his bag. “They don’t like it being a political statement,” he said, adding that other Iranian fans had approached him and appreciated the gesture.

Iranians chanted anti-government slogans from Tehran’s rooftops before Friday’s match. Scattered protests also erupted in Kurdish towns in the western part of the country and in the capital city of Isfahan on Thursday.

Iranian state television on Friday dedicated a major news bulletin to the Iranians’ football prowess, wished the national team good luck against Wales, and aired a montage of Iran’s goals throughout history.