Iranian man said killed by security forces while celebrating World Cup loss to US

Activists say Mehran Samak fatally shot after honking his car horn; outpouring of joy over defeat especially pronounced in cradle of ongoing anti-government protests

Illustrative: A screenshot of video from the Iranian city of Saqez shows Kurdish high school students celebrating Iran's defeat in the World Cup to the United States, November 30, 2022. (YouTube video screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Illustrative: A screenshot of video from the Iranian city of Saqez shows Kurdish high school students celebrating Iran's defeat in the World Cup to the United States, November 30, 2022. (YouTube video screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

A man was killed Tuesday night by Iranian security forces while celebrating the Islamic Republic’s defeat to the United States at the World Cup, according to a rights group.

The national soccer team’s loss was cause for either sadness or exuberant joy for Iranians, depending on where they stand on a two-month-old protest movement.

Caught between the clerical regime and calls to show solidarity with protesters, the national team pressed near-relentlessly in the second half on Tuesday night but were unable to cancel out a 38th-minute opener by the US, resulting in an early exit.

That prompted the extraordinary spectacle of Iranians cheering a defeat inflicted by Iran’s arch-enemy, often labeled the “Great Satan.”

In the northern city of Bandar Anzali, Mehran Samak, 27, was fatally struck by a bullet, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights said. Activists cited by the BBC said Samak was shot after honking his horn.

In video from his funeral Wednesday, mourners chanted a slogan regularly heard at the recent protests. “You are the filth, you are immoral, I am a free woman,” they chanted, according to the British broadcaster.

The funeral apparently took place without a burial, as Iran Human Rights said Iranian authorities were refusing to hand over Samak’s body.

Celebrations of Iran’s loss were especially marked in the western Kurdistan province, the cradle of a movement sparked by the death of young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in morality police custody after her arrest for allegedly infringing the nation’s strict dress code for women.

A video shared online by Kurdish activist Kaveh Ghoreishi showed a Sanandaj city neighborhood at night with sounds of cheering and horns blaring after the United States scored.

That goal also prompted joy in Amini’s hometown of Saqez, according to the London-based news website Iran Wire, which published images showing fireworks and sounds of people cheering.

Protesters also set off fireworks in Mahabad, Kurdistan, following Iran’s loss, according to videos shared online, while Norway-based Hengaw human rights group also reported celebrations there and in the city of Marivan.

The scenes of joy were not confined to Kurdistan province, reflecting the nationwide nature of the protest movement.

Videos on social media showed citizens celebrating in the capital Tehran and Ardabil, Mashhad, Kerman and Zahedan — many with people dancing and cheering in the streets amid long traffic jams.

It was a very different story in a hall in Tehran, where hundreds gathered to unreservedly cheer on their team — including women, in a country where they often have difficulty accessing stadiums.

“I’m so sad that Iran couldn’t defeat the USA but anyway we are proud of our national team and its players,” said Ali, a retiree. “They did their best and we are not angry with them.”

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