Crowds have rallied behind the Iranian women’s football team after they were branded ‘traitors’ by their country’s Islamic regime for refusing to sing the national anthem.
The women stood silent on Monday evening during the anthem ceremony of their Asian Cup match against South Korea in a defiant move which sparked a furious response from the Iranian State.
Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a television presenter considered a radical mouthpiece for the regime, demanded the authorities label the team ‘traitors’.
‘Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,’ he said, according to social media platform X’s translation.
The comments appeared to influence the women, who were later declared ‘hostages’ as they sang the anthem before Thursday’s 4-0 loss against Australia.
But fans at the Asian Cup have jumped to the support of the Iranians, who once again decided to sing before losing 2-0 to the Philippines today.
Videos posted to social media post-match appear to show the Iran team bus leaving the stadium surrounded by dozens of fans. According to one post, the players were spotted pleading for help through the windows of the vehicle using sign language.
Supporters, many carrying Iran flags, are then heard shouting, ‘save our girls’ in a show of solidarity with the women, who have now been knocked out of the tournament.
Supporters have rallied around the Iranian women’s team after they were condemned by the Iranian state for refusing to sing the national anthem
Having refused to sing before a match on Monday, the Iranian women were later described as ‘hostages’ when they sang the anthem on Thursday
The team’s initial refusal to sing their anthem came just two days after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had brutally ruled over Iran for more than four decades.
In his speech condemning the Iranian side’s defiance, presenter Shahbazi continued: ‘Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely. Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national anthem, and that photo that was published and so on, which I won’t get into.
‘Both the public and the authorities must treat these individuals as “wartime traitors.”
‘It should not be viewed merely as an objection or a symbolic gesture.
‘The stain of dishonour and treason must remain on their foreheads, and they must face a definitive and severe confrontation.’
Since the conflict broke out on Saturday, February 28, approximately 1,850 people have been killed in Iran, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Israel, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain.
The Iranian regime today appointed its new Supreme Leader, with Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei set to come into power.
Mojtaba, 56, Khamenei’s second oldest son, has strong links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and was chosen by Iran’s Assembly of Experts ‘under pressure from the Revolutionary Guards’, according to Iranian opposition outlet Iran International.
Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric, has never held office and does not have an official role in the regime.
Earlier in the day, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles and drones at the UAE and Israel as it furiously retaliated after an overnight bombardment which left Tehran burning.
Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv, with missile warnings in the UAE, as Iran hit out following the Israeli attack on oil depots which caused a ‘river of fire’ to engulf its capital.
At least six people were injured in Israel, including one seriously, as a result of the barrage.
