Iranian state-linked media says Voria Ghafouri, a former member of the national soccer team, has been arrested over criticism of the government amid nationwide protests. It comes on the eve of Iran's second World Cup game in Qatar against Wales.
The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported om Thursday that he was arrested for insulting the national soccer team, which is currently playing in the World Cup, and criticizing the government.
Ghafouri, who was not chosen to go to the World Cup, has been an outspoken critic of Iranian authorities and policies throughout his career. Iran has been convulsed by anti-government protests for more than two months, the biggest challenge to its Islamic theocracy in more than a decade. The reports of his arrest came ahead of Friday’s World Cup match between Iran and Wales. At Iran’s opening match against England, the members of the Iranian national team declined to sing along to the national anthem and some fans protested during the match.The protests were ignited by the death of a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman in the custody of the country’s morality police in September.
Ghafouri, who is also a member of Iran’s Kurdish minority, has criticized government policies in the past. Officials have not said whether that was a factor in not choosing him for the national team.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dubai airport chief says passengers top pre-pandemic levelDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai International Airport passenger numbers surpassed pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2022, the airport’s chief executive said, causing the airport to revise its annual forecast by another 1 million passengers.
Read more »
Superyacht Rentals, Private Jets and a Soccer-Themed Hotel: Dubai Is Cashing in on the Qatar World CupPrivate jet and yacht charter operators are seeing a boom in demand from customers coming to watch the 2022 World Cup, and Dubai is set to see an estimated 1 million additional visitors during the course of the tournament, according to officials
Read more »
Iran enriching to up to 60% at Fordow, plans massive expansion, IAEA saysIran is enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade, underground for the first time at its Fordow plant, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday, adding that Iran is also planning a massive expansion of its enrichment capacity.
Read more »
Iran reportedly enriching uranium at 60% purity at underground Fordow facilityIran has allegedly enriched 60% pure uranium at other sites since April 2021, but the decision to do so at its underground Fordow facility presents significant escalation.
Read more »
U.S. and Israel discuss military drill to simulate conflict with Iran, proxiesIsrael and the United States are reportedly planning to hold military drills between the two nations to simulate a possible attack against Iran or its proxies in the region.
Read more »
Iran situation 'critical' with more than 300 killed -UN rights chiefThe U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the situation in Iran was ‘critical.' According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 300 people have been killed so far, including more than 40 children
Read more »