NEW DELHI, Nov 30: In a kind of first, a very unusual affair was witnessed in Iran on Thursday. Iranians engulfed in protests actually “celebrated” the defeat of their national football team in the on-going World Cup because they deem the team to be part of the oppressive regime.
The Iran football team’s defeat to the US in the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday triggered unusual celebrations in their home country, sharply contrasting with the reaction expected after any national team’s loss in a sporting event. Scenes of jubilation on the streets of Iran have been widely shared on social media.
Videos shared on Twitter show Iranians dancing on the streets in a rare display of joy after the videos of burning tires and protesting crowds that have emerged from the country in recent months. But the dancing and celebratory honking was also a show of protest as they denounced the football team’s participation in the World Cup at such a tumultuous time.
Protests against the death of Mahsa Amini have rocked the nation with over 300 people, including children, killed since September. Mahsa Amini was killed in police custody by Iran’s notorious morality police for the “crime” of not wearing her hijab in a proper manner on September 16.
In Mahsa Amini’s hometown of Saqez, as well as several other cities across Iran, citizens celebrated using fireworks. “Saqez citizens have started to celebrate and use fireworks after America’s first goal against Iran’s football team,” some eye-witnesses said.
Protests have since raged through the nation, challenging the authority of the government. The Iranian football team, in their own version of a protest, declined to sing the national anthem before their opening match against England on November 22. While the rebellion was accepted as courageous by some, many Iranians still say the football team doesn’t represent the people of Iran, but the government.
(Manas Dasgupta)
