AFP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
Iranian professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for taking part in anti-regime protests in his country, state media reported.
Initially, Azadani was sentenced to death by hanging. Three other protesters were sentenced to death today by an Iranian court.
16 years in prison
Azadani was convicted on three different charges in the deaths of three members of the Iranian security forces, according to state-run Mizan news agency. Azadani is expected to serve his sentences at the same time. This would mean a total of 16 years in prison.
The 26-year-old footballer, who played for Tractor SC, was facing the death penalty after campaigning for women’s rights and freedoms. The international players’ union FIFPRO therefore called for the sanction to be lifted immediately.
In September of 2022 Jina Mahsa Amini died after an arrest by the morality police. The Kurdish-Iranian woman would not have respected the dress code, and according to eyewitnesses she was mistreated. Her death has sparked anger in Iran. Since then, protests against the regime have continued in the country.
First executions
Arrived early December for the first time a protester the death penalty. The 23-year-old man allegedly blocked a road in Tehran and attacked a member of a Basij paramilitary group. Another protester was later hanged.
Iran has executed at least 500 people in the past year, says human rights organization Iran Human Rights. This is the highest number in five years.
