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Why won’t US activists speak up for the tortured Iran women’s soccer team?

29 0
16.03.2026

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Why won’t US activists speak up for the tortured Iran women’s soccer team?

An athlete’s silent act of dissent can turn both her and her family into targets of intimidation under the rule of Iran’s radical Islamist regime.

After refusing to sing the Islamic Republic’s anthem before a match in Australia, seven members of Iran’s women’s national soccer team sought asylum there, making a desperate choice no athlete should ever face.

After the regime issued threats against the seven and jailed their families, five later withdrew their claims and left.

And yet from the global capital of women’s soccer, there has been no public solidarity.

American stars who never miss a chance to speak about women’s sports, equality and courage, like Megan Rapinoe, have had nothing to say as Iranian players risk exile, prison and retaliation for the smallest act of defiance.

The regime’s campaign of terror against dissidents does not spare the athletes it forces to compete under its flag, subjecting them to bans, interrogation, and detention if they display any measure of resistance.

Iranian women’s soccer team member flip-flops on asylum — reveals secret site where her teammates hid

Boxer Sadaf Khadem........

© New York Post