Iran: Security forces probably shoot man who celebrates the end of the World Cup

Iran Human Rights
Human rights activist: Security forces shoot Iranian who celebrated the end of the World Cup

Security forces in Iran have been using violence against protesters for weeks (archive image)

© UGC / AFP

People in Iran have been protesting for more freedom for months. Now, according to human rights activists, security forces have shot dead a man who was celebrating Iran’s World Cup exit.

A man has been killed in Iran after celebrating the Iranian national team’s elimination from the World Cup in Qatar, according to human rights groups. The 27-year-old Mehran Samak was “shot in the head by security forces” after the defeat by the United States, the Oslo-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR) said on Wednesday.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), based in New York, confirmed that Samak was killed by security forces while he was celebrating.

Iran eliminated against USA at World Cup

Iran was kicked out of the tournament in Qatar on Tuesday by nemesis USA, which led to disappointed but also happy reactions at home. Many Iranians have refused to support their national team over the violent crackdown on protests that have been going on in the country for the past two months.

According to the human rights organizations, Samak celebrated defeat in his car in the town of Bandar Ansali on the Caspian Sea before he was shot.

Funeral with shouts of “Death to the Dictator”.

CHRI released a video of Samak’s funeral on Wednesday. Mourners can be heard shouting “Death to the dictator”. The slogan is directed against Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and is often heard in the nationwide protests.

Iran has been shaken by a nationwide wave of protests since mid-September. The trigger was the death of the 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody – she had been arrested by the vice squad because she is said to have worn her headscarf improperly.



Iran: Teenagers hurl turbans off clergymen's heads

The authorities are taking action against the demonstrators with increasing severity. According to IHR, at least 448 people were killed by security forces, and the military says more than 300 have died.

tkr
AFP

source site-3