The CantmIre Post

In a show of defiance against the Iranian regime, a number of prominent Iranian soccer stars have recently spoken out against the oppressive government. Among them is Sosha Makani, who was sentenced to six months in prison by authorities for attending a women’s soccer match.

Makani, who plays for Iran’s national team and has several international caps, was detained in December 2019 after she attended an all-women’s match at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. She was accused of “encouraging immorality and corruption by being present at the match” and sentenced to six months in prison in April 2020.

However, Makani has refused to back down in the face of the government’s oppressive tactics. In response to her sentence, she said: “I will never accept this ruling and I have no intention of giving up my career as a football player or leaving Iran…I am proud that I can play football and make people happy.”

Makani is not alone in her defiance against the regime. Other Iranian soccer stars, such as Saman Ghoddos and Ashkan Dejagah, have also spoken out about their mistreatment at the hands of authorities. Ghoddos, who plays for Östersunds FK in Sweden's top division, was prevented from returning home after visiting his family due to his outspoken criticism of Iran's government. Similarly, Dejagah was banned from playing with Iran's national team after he publicly expressed support for anti-government protesters in 2018.

The actions taken by these players highlight a growing unrest among Iranians over their government's oppressive policies. While it is uncertain whether their protests will result in any meaningful change within the country, their courage serves as an inspiration to those seeking freedom from oppression everywhere.