Tense situation at Iran-N. Korea Soccer Game

SMCCDI (Information Service):

A tense situation is existing at Tehran's "Azadi ('Freedom') Stadium where thousands of fans have gathered under huge security measures instated by the Islamic regime. Iran-N. Korea's game is to start, in few hours, in preparation of the 2006 Soccer World Cup. READ MORE

Hundreds and hundreds of security apparatus and members of the Islamic regime's Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) have been deployed around and inside the stadium. Thousands of others have also been deployed in Karaj district (a suburb of Tehran and home of the stadium) and in major cities like Shiraz, Esfahan and especially Tehran in order to prevent any hostile demonstrators from taking control of streets and public buildings.

The regime intends to avoid another fiasco and International shame as it witnessed in the last game played against Japan during which several protesters were killed and tens of other were injured at the stadium and in streets clashes. The concerns of the Islamic Leadership have been boosted due to the presence of tens of foreign reporters in Iran at the occasion of the upcoming sham Presidential elections and the increasing number of Iranians intending to boycott them.

But already and few hours before the game, some minor and sporadic clashes have already been reported by taking place in the stadium's parking where several thousands have gathered, including many female, who are hoping to make their way inside the stadium.

Several potential protesters, as well as tens of women and young girls, have already been arrested and transferred to the LEF Command Center. The presence of "Iranian" females is forbidden in Iranian stadium based on the Gender Apartheid law while the presence of European and Japanese women has been officially allowed for helping regime's false image and its economic relations with these countries.

Tracts calling for boycott of the upcoming sham Presidential elections or rebellion against the regime have been spread among the public. Other are calling for hostile demos from the end of the game.

It's to note that soccer riots are nothing new as exasperated Iranians are usually seizing ever opportunity offered by soccer games or big events to protest and express their rejection of the Islamic regime. Indeed, Iran was the scene of consecutive and massive protests, during the 2002 World Cup soccer qualification games but the trend was stopped by bloody repressive measures, and the believed forced loss of Iran to Bahrain. In Esafahan alone several protesters were killed by the security apparatus and the regime had to transfer the notorious Esfahan Governor. Known for having ordered the bloody repression, he, the governor, was transferred to his present post as the Islamic regime's Ambassador to Kuwait.

Since then, important soccer games are often turned into popular protests, especially when they're played in Tehran, or in Ahwaz where there was a huge demonstration a few months ago.

SMCCDI is known for its key role in the promotion of Football (Soccer) Protests and especially in the coordination of last World Cup Soccer qualification games' riots. It constantly mobilized the masses via the intense use of digital technology, such as the Internet and satellite TV, as well as, help from some friendly radio stations abroad who were offering airtime for consecutive interviews and transmitting the Movement's calls:

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