Iran charges ex-footballer for ‘leading’ protests: reports

A protester holds pictures of Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in solidarity with Iranian women and protestors in Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome on October 5, 2022, following her death in the custody of morality police in Iran. – A wave of unrest has rocked Iran since 22-year-old Amini died on September 16 after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly breaching the country’s strict rules on hijab headscarves and modest clothing. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Iran has charged former football star Ali Karimi in absentia for his support for protests over Mahsa Amini’s death in morality police custody, Iranian media have reported.

A wave of unrest has rocked Iran since the 22-year-old Kurdish woman’s death was announced on September 16 after her arrest in Tehran for allegedly failing to observe the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women.

The Iranian judiciary accused the former Bayern Munich midfielder of being “a prominent leader the recent riots”, Mehr news agency said on Tuesday.

Karimi, who reportedly moved to the United Arab Emirates a few months ago, was accused of “spreading the voice of the enemy and encouraging” the protest movement, Mehr added.

The 43-year-old former player and coach has repeatedly used Instagram, where he has more than 13 million followers, to support the protests and condemn Amini’s death, saying “nothing can wash away this disgrace”.

Ultraconservative daily Kayhan accused Karimi on Wednesday of having “led the riots” and “poured oil on the flames of the troubles”, which led to the “death and martyrdom of young people”.

The street violence has led to dozens of deaths — mostly of protesters but also members of the security forces — and hundreds of