At World Cup, US soccer scrubs Islamic emblem from Iran flag

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The U.S. soccer federation is displaying Iran’s nationwide flag on social media with out the logo of the Islamic Republic, saying it helps protesters in Iran forward of the 2 nations’ World Cup match Tuesday.The federation mentioned in an announcement Sunday that it determined to forego the official flag on social media accounts to point out “assist for the ladies in Iran combating for fundamental human rights.”The transfer comes as nationwide protests difficult Tehran’s theocratic authorities proceed in Iran. The Twitter account of the U.S. males’s group displayed a banner with the squad’s matches within the group stage, with the Iranian flag solely bearing its inexperienced, white and pink colours. The identical could possibly be seen in a put up on its Fb and Instagram accounts laying out the purpose totals up to now in its group. The U.S. soccer federation displayed the official Iranian flag in a graphic exhibiting Group B standings on its web site.The absence of the logo comes as monthslong demonstrations have challenged Iran’s authorities for the reason that Sept. 16 dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the nation’s morality police. The protests have seen no less than 450 folks killed since they began, in addition to over 18,000 arrested, based on Human Rights Activists in Iran, an advocacy group following the demonstrations. Iran has not launched casualty or arrest figures for months and alleges with out offering proof that the protests have been fomented by its enemies overseas, together with the U.S. Tehran additionally restricts press entry and has detained over 63 reporters and photographers for the reason that demonstrations started, based on the Committee to Shield Journalists, making masking the unrest that rather more troublesome.Iran’s mission to the United Nations and its soccer federation didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. As feedback raged on-line, Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim information company described the U.S. federation as “eradicating the image of Allah” from the Iranian flag. The Islamic Republic emblem, designed in 1980, is 4 curves with a sword between them. It represents the Islamic saying: “There isn’t a god however God.” It additionally resembles a tulip or lotus. On the prime and the underside of the flag, there are 22 inscriptions of “God is Nice” as properly, which honors the date on the Persian calendar when the Islamic Revolution took maintain. The flag has turn out to be some extent of competition on the World Cup. Obvious pro-government supporters have waved it, shouting at these demonstrating over Amini’s dying. Others at matches have waved Iran’s lion and solar flag, an emblem of its former ruler, the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.Extra safety forces could possibly be seen at Iran’s final match towards Wales. Within the capital Tehran, anti-riot police — the identical ones cracking down on protests — waved the Iranian flag after the Wales win, angering demonstrators.___Associated Press author Ronald Blum contributed to this report. ___Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at .