sport news Human rights group Open Stadiums demand FIFA kick Iran OUT the World Cup trends now
A human rights group has written to FIFA president Gianni Infantino calling for Iran to be kicked out of the World Cup in Qatar later this year because of the country's oppression of women.
Widespread protests have erupted across Iran and now in countries all over the world in response to the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini in police custody, after she was arrested earlier in September for loosely wearing her veil.
The Iranian regime has responded, as it usually does, with force and an internet blackout to make it harder for people to plan protests. At least 83 people have been killed since the protests broke out.
Now as reported by Front Office Sports, the organization Open Stadiums, which campaigns for Iranian women's rights, wrote to Infantino saying: 'For over four decades, Iranian women have been denied their most basic liberties.
'We have been banned from enjoying sports, watching games in stadiums, and cheering for our favorite football teams. You repeatedly made a public commitment that FIFA would solve these gross human rights violations but we have, sadly, come to the conclusion that these were all empty words and promises.
'Why would FIFA give the Iranian state and its representatives a global stage while it not only refuses to respect basic human rights and dignities, but is currently torturing and killing its own people? Therefore, we ask FIFA, based on Articles 3 and 4 of its statutes, to immediately expel Iran from the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.'
Furthermore, there are reports that Hossein Mahini, who has previously played 23 times for Iran, has been arrested amid his support of the protests.
Iran's players wore black jackets in a move seen as an expression of solidarity with protestors against the Iranian regime after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody
The 22-year-old Amini died in police custody after being arrested for wearing her veil loosely
Her death has sparked widespread protests, firstly in Iran against the regime (pictured are the scenes in Tehran earlier in September) and across the world
Open Stadiums have campaigned over the last decade for women to be allowed to attend football matches in Iran, but with only limited success.
Under pressure from Infantino, a small group of female fans were granted access to Persepolis's home leg of the 2018 Asian Champions League final in Tehran. There has been minimal progress since, with female fans barred from entering Iran's World Cup qualifying game against Lebanon in Mashad in March, with video emerging of female supporters being pepper sprayed outside the stadium.
For all the good intentions of Open Stadium there is, however, an argument among some that it is more important than ever for Iran to compete in the tournament.
Iran's team wore black jackets as it
