Picture Credit: Twitter
In a shocking turn of events, an Iranian national was reportedly shot dead by the Iran security forces after Iran was shocked by the United States in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
According to emerging reports, the deceased was identified as Mehran Samak, an anti-regime supporter, who was honking his car and celebrating the historic defeat of the national side against America.
Oslo-based Iran, Human Rights group confirmed the horrific incident and claimed that Amini was shot directly to death. However, there is no official comment from the Iranian authorities. Meanwhile, Iranian midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, who played the game against America, revealed that he knew the deceased and also mourned his death by posting a picture of Samak from their youth football days.
“After last night’s bitter loss, the news of your passing set fire to my heart. Some day the mask will fall, and the truth will be laid bare. This is not what our youth deserve. This is not what our nation deserves,” Ezatolahi wrote in an Insta post.
Notably, Iran’s World Cup 2022 campaign has been marred with a series of controversial decisions by the players and the staff. It starts with players deciding not to sign the national anthem ahead of their first game against England to mark their solidarity with the nationwide protest in their own country.
However, Iranian players undone their decision in the second clash against Wales, which mostly appeared as a letdown for Iranian fans. Most protestors saw that act as betrayal, while reporters confirmed the Iranian national side was under heavy political pressure from the Iranian authorities.
Meanwhile, several reports have confirmed that anti-regime protestors have celebrated Iran’s loss to the US. There were fireworks and slogans against the establishment observed all around the country.
The ongoing unrest started ten weeks ago following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by moral police in Tehran for allegedly violating the strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab.
Reportedly, 448 people have been killed, including scores of children. More than 18,000 are reportedly under arrest. Notably, Christian Pulisic scored in the 38th minute, and the United States held on in a must-win match to stun Iran 1-0 in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to advance to the round of 16.
