Iranian soccer legend Ali Daei, who backed protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, accused Tehran on Monday of diverting a flight carrying his wife and daughter to Dubai.
Iranian justice sealed Ali Daei’s jewelry store and restaurant in early December for joining protesters’ calls for a strike following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin who died while in custody. on sight on September 16, three days following he was arrested by the morality police who accused him of violating the strict dress code for women.
State media confirmed that Mr. Daei’s family had been banned from leaving the country due to his “associationto anti-government groups.
Mr Daei’s wife and daughter boarded a Mahan Air flight to Tehran but were forced off the plane following landing on Iran’s Gulf island of Kish, the sportsman said 53 years old quoted by the ISNA agency. “They weren’t arrested“, he added. “No one has given me an answer regarding this incident. I really don’t know what the reason for this decision is. My wife and daughter were going to Dubai for a few days“.
Mr. Daei’s wife had undertaken to inform the authorities if she wished to leave the country”due to its relationship with groups hostile to the Islamic Revolution and rioters“, says the IRNA agency citing justice.
The former striker told AFP in October that his passport was confiscated by police upon his return from abroad, before being returned to him a few days later. He also says he is the target of threats since he supported the protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
On September 27, Daei called on social media for the government to “solving the problems of the Iranian people rather than resorting to repression“.
Ali Daei played in the Bundesliga, notably at Bayern Munich, and his 109 goals at international level was a record for a long time, before being surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo. He did not attend the World Cup in Qatar due to the crackdown on protests.
