First pictures of Iranian ‘blue girl’ who set herself on fire in Football protest

14.09.2019
First pictures of Iranian ‘blue girl’ who set herself on fire in Football protest - Похоронный портал
Sahar Khodayari was dubbed the blue girl after her favourite football team (Picture: Twitter)

Faye Brown


Tributes have poured in for an Iranian girl who died when she set herself alight after being refused entry to a football stadium in Tehran.

Sahar Khodayari, 29, faced charges of ‘appearing in public without a hijab’ when she attempted to enter a stadium in the Iranian capital ‘dressed as a man’ in March, according to Amnesty International.

The human rights organisation said Khodayari poured gasoline on herself shortly after her court case was adjourned and died nine days later, on Monday September 9.

She has been dubbed the ‘blue girl’ for the colour of her favourite team, Esteqlal of Tehran, who held a minute silence for the fan today, according to local reports.

 Amnesty International say Iran is the only country in the world that stops and punishes women seeking to enter football stadiums. 

The ban has been in place since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 but has been widely criticised both at home and internationally in light of Sahar’s death.

Football players and supporters from around the world have sent their condolences while many have called for the country’s football federation to be suspended or banned by FIFA.

Swedish player Kosovare Asllani said: ‘This is a tragedy and it can’t continue anymore.It’s time to act and not be silent .WE need to help the women of Iran fight against gender apartheid.This is about human rights!#SaharKhodayari’

French footballer Paul Pogba said: ‘Strength and prayers to family and friends of #bluegirl #SaharKhodayari’

A statement from FIFA said the organisation ‘deeply regrets’ Sahar’s death.

They said they have reiterated calls on the Iranian authorities ‘to ensure the freedom and safety of any women engaged in this legitimate fight to end the stadium ban for women in Iran.’

Officials will be visiting Iran in the next two weeks as part of preparations for Iran’s World Cup qualifying games.

They said they will check the preparations made by the Iranian FA to provide access for women wishing to watch  Iran’s match against Cambodia on October. 10.

Calling the case ‘heart-breaking’, Philip Luther from Amnesty International said her death showed the impact of Iran’s ‘appalling contempt for women’s rights’.

He said: ‘Her death must not be in vain. It must spur change in Iran if further tragedies are to be avoided in the future.’ 

                                                                                                  

Iranian woman denied soccer stadium access dies after setting herself on fire
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/10/football/iran-football-women-sahar-khodayari-spt-intl/index.html
Iranian female soccer fan dies after setting herself on fire
http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/soccer/id/27585006




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