“Traitor to the nation”: Iran seizes the properties of ex-footballer Ali Karimi after his criticism of the Islamic Republic

The regime is also attacking the country’s former glories. Iranian authorities announced Monday the seizure of six properties linked to former Iranian international footballer Ali Karimi, exiled abroad and vehement critic of the Islamic Republic.

The former Bayern Munich player, sometimes nicknamed the “Asian Maradona” for his creativity with the ball, gave his support, through various messages posted on social networks, to the protest movement against the authorities as well as to the ex-shah, driven from power in 1979 by a revolution which resulted in the advent of the Islamic Republic. Ali Karimi is a “traitor to the nation, who has actively supported the enemy in recent years,” affirms the Mizan website, the press organ of the judiciary.

Already continued in 2022

Four residences and two commercial premises belonging to the 47-year-old ex-footballer “were identified and seized by court order, in the interest of the Iranian people,” according to the same source. Ali Karimi, who left Iran in 2022, did not react publicly to this announcement.

In 2022, while living in the United Arab Emirates, he had already been prosecuted by the Iranian courts for having “encouraged” the demonstrations triggered after the death of Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating the strict dress code. Judicial authorities blocked the assets of a list of people described as “traitors” after the start of the war with Israel and the United States on February 28.

The property of Zahra Ghanbari, captain of the women’s national football team, was seized after the player filed an asylum application in Australia. She then withdrew her request and recovered her assets. Five other players and a member of the management had, like her, requested asylum during the Women’s Asian Nations Cup in Australia. Two ultimately remained in the country.

The Iranian men’s football team must take part in the World Cup in June in the United States, a trip under close surveillance given the context of war in the Middle East.