An Iranian man was shot lifeless by the safety forces after celebrating when the United States eradicated his nation’s nationwide staff from the World Cup, rights teams mentioned on Wednesday. Iran was knocked out of the World Cup by the United States in Qatar on Tuesday evening, drawing a blended response from pro- and anti-regime supporters. Many had refused to assist the nationwide staff in response to a bloody authorities crackdown on greater than two months of protests sparked by the demise in custody of Mahsa Amini.
Mehran Samak, 27, was shot lifeless after honking his automotive horn in Bandar Anzali, a metropolis on the Caspian Sea coast northwest of Tehran, human rights teams mentioned.
Samak “was targeted directly and shot in the head by security forces… following the defeat of the national team against America”, mentioned Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR).
The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) additionally reported that he had been killed by the safety forces whereas celebrating. There was no instant touch upon the incident from the Iranian authorities.
In a rare twist, Iranian worldwide midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, who performed within the US match and is from Bandar Anzali, revealed he knew Samak and posted an image of them collectively in a youth soccer staff.
“After last night’s bitter loss, the news of your passing set fire to my heart,” mentioned Ezatolahi on Instagram, describing Samak as a “childhood teammate”.
He didn’t touch upon the circumstances of his buddy’s demise however mentioned: “Some day the masks will fall, the truth will be laid bare.”
He added: “This is not what our youth deserve. This is not what our nation deserves.” Ezatolahi, distraught on the consequence, had been seen after the ultimate whistle being comforted each by his teammates and the US gamers.
Tense funeral
Iran’s staff have been below intense scrutiny on the World Cup, not singing the nationwide anthem of their first match however doing so in two subsequent ones, amid studies of stress from the authorities not to present assist for the protests.
The CHRI revealed a video from Samak’s funeral on Wednesday at which mourners might be heard shouting “Death to the dictator”. The chant aimed toward Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is likely one of the predominant slogans of the protests that flared after Amini’s demise in custody on September 16.
IHR mentioned that the authorities had refused to hand the physique over to the household, whereas BBC Persian mentioned the funeral in Bandar Anzali had gone forward with out prior announcement and with a heavy safety presence in a bid to keep away from main incidents.
Iran’s safety forces have killed at the very least 448 folks within the crackdown on the protests, together with 60 kids below the age of 18 and 29 ladies, in accordance to IHR. An Iranian normal mentioned on Monday that greater than 300 folks have been killed within the unrest.
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