REZA SHEKARI, A PERSEPOLIS PLAYER, WAS ARRESTED FOR SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL UPRISING

Reza Shekari, a player for Persepolis FC in Tehran, was arrested at the airport after the team returned from a training camp in Qatar.

According to a source at Persepolis, the reason for his arrest was a post he shared on his Instagram story on January 8th, the same day as the first call by Prince Reza Pahlavi. In that story, Mr. Shekari reposted a video of Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a state TV host, and wrote, “I’ll come for you first,” in response to Mr. Shahbazi’s insult toward Prince Reza Pahlavi.

The source said the post was deleted minutes after being shared, under pressure from club officials.

Mr. Shekari had previously been detained for 24 hours over holding a “mixed-gender” wedding ceremony and not complying with mandatory hijab rules at the event.