Ali Karimi, a legendary Iranian footballer, has joined forces with other prominent figures from the sport to urge FIFA President Gianni Infantino to speak out against the brutal crackdown on protesters in his home country.
The call for condemnation comes as thousands of Iranians have been killed or arrested during protests over the past month. The letter, signed by 20 individuals including former footballers and sports journalists, warns that "silence in the face of these crimes amounts to abandoning the very principles that global football claims to defend".
Among those who lost their lives were a number of prominent athletes. Mojtaba Tarshiz, a former top-division player, had two young children who are now orphaned. Saba Rashtian, an assistant referee for women's football, and Mehdi Lavasani, a youth coach, also fell victim to the violence.
The Iranian authorities have used CCTV footage from shops to compile evidence against protesters, and the state-run media often gives widespread coverage to the deaths of prominent athletes in an attempt to create fear among potential dissidents. The letter claims that these tactics are part of a broader strategy of "systematic repression" that has resulted in "mass killings and actions that constitute clear instances of crimes against humanity and war crimes".
Ali Karimi, who played 127 times for Iran and represented Bayern Munich, has become one of the most vocal supporters of the protest movement. In 2022, he accused Iranian authorities of trying to kidnap him and claimed his family had been threatened after he publicly backed anti-government protests.
Karimi says that Iranians have paid a heavy price in terms of lives and freedom over decades in order to secure basic rights. He wants to ensure that the international community hears about the atrocities being committed, stating that "the least I can do is be the voice of my people".
The letter demands that FIFA and national football federations publicly condemn these actions, demand an immediate halt to them, use all available legal and disciplinary mechanisms to protect Iranian football figures, and affirm peaceful protest and free speech as fundamental human rights.
The call for condemnation comes as thousands of Iranians have been killed or arrested during protests over the past month. The letter, signed by 20 individuals including former footballers and sports journalists, warns that "silence in the face of these crimes amounts to abandoning the very principles that global football claims to defend".
Among those who lost their lives were a number of prominent athletes. Mojtaba Tarshiz, a former top-division player, had two young children who are now orphaned. Saba Rashtian, an assistant referee for women's football, and Mehdi Lavasani, a youth coach, also fell victim to the violence.
The Iranian authorities have used CCTV footage from shops to compile evidence against protesters, and the state-run media often gives widespread coverage to the deaths of prominent athletes in an attempt to create fear among potential dissidents. The letter claims that these tactics are part of a broader strategy of "systematic repression" that has resulted in "mass killings and actions that constitute clear instances of crimes against humanity and war crimes".
Ali Karimi, who played 127 times for Iran and represented Bayern Munich, has become one of the most vocal supporters of the protest movement. In 2022, he accused Iranian authorities of trying to kidnap him and claimed his family had been threatened after he publicly backed anti-government protests.
Karimi says that Iranians have paid a heavy price in terms of lives and freedom over decades in order to secure basic rights. He wants to ensure that the international community hears about the atrocities being committed, stating that "the least I can do is be the voice of my people".
The letter demands that FIFA and national football federations publicly condemn these actions, demand an immediate halt to them, use all available legal and disciplinary mechanisms to protect Iranian football figures, and affirm peaceful protest and free speech as fundamental human rights.
It's crazy to think about the situation in Iran right now... thousands of people killed or arrested just for speaking out against their government is absolutely appalling 
. I mean, how can you even justify that? The fact that they're using CCTV footage from shops to catch protesters and manipulating the media to create fear is just so manipulative 
.
. And it's not just about Karimi or other athletes - it's about the millions of ordinary Iranians who are suffering under this regime.
. It's time for FIFA to take a stand on human rights, even if it means rocking the boat a bit 
. The least they can do is acknowledge what's happening in Iran and demand an end to these atrocities 
.
about the situation in Iran my heart goes out to Ali Karimi and the families of those who lost their lives 
it's just not right that they're using CCTV footage from shops to catch protesters and it's like they're trying to create fear lol what even is that?!? 
anyway I think FIFA needs to speak out about this ASAP it's like they're supposed to be the ones promoting peace and love but instead they're just sitting there 
I mean Ali Karimi has been through so much already with his family getting threatened and all and now he just wants to make sure that his people are heard 
I'm literally shaking thinking about what those protesters have gone through 
this is so sad, thousands of innocent people losing their lives... 
and now he's asking for our help 
fifa needs to speak out against this 
and condemn these heinous crimes 
. anyway, it's crazy how footballers are using their platform to speak out against these human rights abuses... i mean, if Ali Karimi can do it, why not other famous athletes? 
... all that said, it's still cool to see people like Karimi standing up for what's right and demanding justice. 
FIFA has to take a stand here, or they'll be complicit in this systematic repression 
. It's heartbreaking that these athletes had to lose their lives for something as fundamental as free speech.
. FIFA needs to step up its game and support Karimi in his demands. We're all ears (and cameras) folks, so let's get some action on this! 
. Now, all that hope is being crushed underfoot by this brutal crackdown. And FIFA just sits there, silent as usual 
? It's like they're more interested in their own reputation than in standing up for human rights.
. I mean, we're talking about a global governing body like FIFA that should be speaking out against this kind of oppression. Ali Karimi's got the right to call for action, but what about Gianni Infantino? Can't he just make an official statement or something? It's not like it's going to hurt the sport to show some support for human rights 
. I'm definitely reading up on this more and trying to understand what's going on, but from where I'm sitting, it just seems like FIFA should be taking a stronger stance 
.
it aint just about footy its about humanity