The second time we speak over Zoom and she looks exhausted. Her friends were having their nails done - two women travelling on their own whom she met four years ago in Russia - and she was full of energy intrigued by what the World Cup in Qatar would be like, even if she knew she would likely feel threatened and intimidated as an Iranian woman, and passionate about bringing greater awareness of what is happening in Iran. The first was in a shopping mall before the tournament began. This is the second time we have met in Doha. You feel like they were really happy in their own lives and then… they killed the life of blameless people who wanted to enjoy that life.” She does not know whose cameras might have caught her at matches in Doha and it is too dangerous to go back to a country where “blameless people” are being killed for protesting against a theocratic regime they despise. She has since left Qatar but cannot return to Iran - certainly not now and who knows when. “Things were difficult for us in Russia (at the 2018 World Cup) but it was worse here. They have shown “no alliance”, as she puts it. Iran is not going to protect her and she feels the organisers of this World Cup - at FIFA and in Qatar - are not on her side, either. Her words are delivered with quiet resolve. “But you can’t bring football to the Middle East and then not talk about politics. “They are just putting on a show and they don’t want anyone interfering with that,” says the woman, shrugging her shoulders. An Iran supporter with blood tears make-up on her face holds a football jersey with the name of Mahsa Amini (Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |