In the course of the ongoing protests against the Iranian regime, several climbers and outdoor athletes have been arrested in the city of Shiraz. They are accused of planning a bomb attack. Pro-reform Iranian media fear they have been coerced into false confessions and may face mock trials and executions.
According to Iran Wire, several climbers and outdoor athletes have been arrested and detained in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz in recent weeks. Some of them had published scenes of protests on social media before their arrest.
The snowboard instructor Dena Shibani, the climbing instructor Seyed Hesam Mousavi, the climbers Mohammed Kheiveh and Eshragh Najaf Abadi and the snowboard instructor Amir Arsalan Mahdavi is accused of planning a bomb attack.
Forced Confession?
A few days ago, the pro-government news agency Tasnim broadcast a video with alleged confessions by the athletes, paving the way for draconian punishments.
Various media including BBCPersian, suspect that the athletes were forced to confess. There is great fear that the group could face mock trials and executions.
Iran has arrested at least 7 athletes accusing them of plotting a bomb attack in Shiraz.
- Parham Ghobadi (@BBCParham) December 14, 2022
“The forced confessions were made under torture,” informed sources told BBC Persian, adding the authorities seek to stop other athletes from supporting protests.pic.twitter.com/MxGFnBf3Q9
Identities not confirmed, resemblance given
It cannot yet be said with certainty whether the people in the video are the arrested athletes.
BBC Persian writes that Tasnim has only published people's first names and has not yet confirmed their identities. "But given the similarity of these five names to the five climbers and rock climbers arrested in Shiraz, they appear to be the same."
create visibility
Many will be wondering what to do about this worrying news from Iran. An answer to this has an information source from UK climbing, According to which the families of the accused ask that the international media and governments pay attention to the situation:
"The best thing we can do - and have to do - is go on social media and break the news. Because then people will see how the regime will execute their own athletes, coaches, route setters and national team members."
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Credits: Cover picture IranWire
