For more than 100 days, mainly women and girls have been protesting in Iran against the regime, its strict rules and violence following the death of Mahsa Amini. According to the Human Rights Activists’ News Agency (HRANA), more than 500 people have been killed in the protests – including at least 69 children. Two men have already been executed and 26 others have been sentenced to death for taking part in the protests.

Even erstwhile heroes are not safe from a crackdown. Football legend Ali Daei had to surrender his passport for a short time, but then got it back. The coach had once also played for Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. And now Ali Daei has supported the protests against the Iranian government.

The wife and daughter of the former captain of the national team wanted to travel to Dubai. The rulers in Tehran had the plane in which Ali Daei’s family was travelling diverted on this 2nd Christmas Day. The authorities had already closed a restaurant and a jewellery shop owned by the 53-year-old ex-footballer.

The flight from Tehran to Dubai had to stop over on the Iranian island of Kish, and the wife and daughter had to leave the plane to be questioned.

Ali Karimi, one of Iran’s most famous former footballers who also played for Bayern Munich and lived in Dubai for a time, also supports the protests. He said Iranian intelligence agents had threatened to kill him. That is why Karimi relocated to the USA.

According to the BBC, Karimi is one of the most outspoken critics of the Iranian regime – on his Instagram account, which has more than 14 million followers.