TEHERAN – Iran has released more than 700 prisoners after the national team’s World Cup victory over Wales, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said on Monday.
It announced that “709 detainees were freed from different prisons in the country” following the 2-0 Group B victory on Friday.
Among those are “some arrested during the recent events,” Mizan Online said, making indirect reference to demonstrations which have shaken Iran for more than two months.
It gave no further detail.
The ongoing protests were triggered by the Sept 16 death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, after her arrest by morality police for an alleged breach of Iran’s strict dress rules for women. She was visiting Teheran with her younger brother.
Other Iranian media separately reported that prominent Iranian actor Hengameh Ghaziani had been released on bail after her arrest for having supported the protests.
Two of the most prominent figures detained over the demonstrations – former international footballer Voria Ghafouri and dissident Hossein Ronaghi – were also let out on bail, reports said.
State news agency IRNA reported on Monday that former state television host Mahmoud Shahriari, 63, had been released after two months in prison for “encouraging riots”.
Iran on Friday scored twice deep into stoppage time to stun Wales and breathe new life into their World Cup campaign ahead of a politically charged showdown on Tuesday against the United States. Iran had lost their first World Cup match to England in a 6-2 rout.
Iran’s judiciary said more than 2,000 people have been charged since the start of the protests.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk last week said around 14,000 people have been arrested.
Meanwhile, Iranian football legend Ali Daei on Monday said he had been targeted by threats after backing ongoing protests in Iran.
Daei, whose 109 goals at international level was long unsurpassed until he was overtaken by Cristiano Ronaldo, played in Iran’s legendary 1998 2-1 World Cup victory against the United States.
He decided not go to the World Cup in Qatar due to the Iranian authorities’ deadly crackdown on the protests.
“I have received numerous threats against myself and my family in recent months and days from some organisations, media and unknown individuals,” Daei said in a statement on Instagram.
“I was taught humanity, honour, patriotism and freedom.... What do you want to achieve with such threats?“ he added.
In the post, Daei also called for the “unconditional release” of prisoners arrested in the crackdown on the protests in Iran.
Daei earlier in November said he would not be travelling to Qatar for the World Cup, despite having an invitation from the organisers, saying he wanted to be “with my compatriots and express sympathy with all those who have lost loved ones” in the ongoing crackdown.
His comments come as Iran prepares to face the United States on Tuesday, in a repeat of the 1998 showdown, with Team Melli seeking to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time in its history.
There has been intense scrutiny on football as the protests continue in Iran, posing the biggest challenge to the regime since the 1979 revolution.
Daei himself reportedly had his passport confiscated when returning to Iran in the early phase of the protests, but subsequently had it returned. AFP
