Former Iran football player slams govt for silence over death of celebratory US fan

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Former Iran football player slams govt for silence over death of celebratory US fan

A former Iran national team football player has criticised authorities for their silence over the death of a man who celebrated the country's World Cup defeat to the United States earlier this week.

Mehran Samak, 27, died in Bandar Anzali cityAnzali city, northern Iran, during public celebrations by anti-government protesters after Tuesday s match in which the US beat Iran 1 -- 0 to advance to the knockout stages of the competition.

The Norway-based watchdog group Iran Human Rights has alleged, citing several independent sources, that he was shot in the head by security personnel.

According to Iranian state media, police have denied he was killed by authorities and have announced the arrests of several suspects in connection with his death.

In a video that circulated on social media on Saturday, Mohammad Ahmadzadeh, who played for Iran from 1988 to 1990 and Malavan F.C., coached by Mohammad Ahmadzadeh. Bandar Anzali s member of Parliament Ahmad Donyamali challenged Bandar Anzali from 2018 to 2020 and called for accountability from city officials.

He said hello to all my fellow Anzali people who have lost another youth, Mehran Samak. We lost this dear one and all the people of Anzali are bereaved. I want to ask the authorities of the city what their crime was? Is it a crime to be happy for whatever reason or to honk your horn? I want to ask Mr. Donyamali, who considers himself a representative of this city, why are you silent? The state-aligned Iran Students News Agency said on Thursday that the Bandar Anzali prosecutor had opened a case into the suspicious killing.

Several videos showing people in cities across Iran, including the capital Tehran, celebrating inside their homes after the match were posted on social media Tuesday night.

I am happy that this is the government losing to the people, one witness to celebrations in a city in the Kurdish region, told CNN on Wednesday. CNN is not naming the witness for security concerns.

On Tuesday night, Activists 1500 tasvir posted videos showing security forces opening fire at people in Behbahan and beating a woman in Qazvin. Both cities are south of Bandar Anzali, where Samak is said to have been shot.

CNN can't independently confirm the information, as Iran's government is not allowing foreign media into the country, and has not been transparent in its reporting on protests and protest casualties.

A deadly clampdown was initiated by the authorities after demonstrations rocked Iran for several months.

The nationwide uprising was first ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who had been arrested by the country's morality police in mid-September. Protesters in Iran have been involved in a number of grievances with the regime since then.