A 27-year-old Iranian man was reportedly killed by security forces in northern Iran after honking his car horn in celebration of the country’s elimination from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after the 1-0 defeat by the United States.
Mehran Samak was in Bandar Anzali, northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran, where human rights activists say he was shot in the head by security forces, according to The Guardian. This is happening as many Iranians are protesting against the Iranian regime. Samak was one of many across the country who took to the streets to celebrate the loss.
The death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, has sparked protests across the country. She was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly breaking the country’s conservative dress code by not wearing a hijab. Amini died while in custody.
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Iranian fans wave flags as they gather at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran December 1, 2022 to greet the Iran national team on their return after participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (Hadi Zand/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images)
“Women live freedom” has now become a rallying cry, and protests in Iran have spread to Qatar, where tensions between activists and supporters of the current regime have been publicly seen.
Activists saw the loss to the US as a blow to the government.
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Samak is also friends with Iranian midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, The Guardian reported.
Ezatolahi went viral after the last game. Pictures showed Americans Josh Sargent and DeAndre Yedlin comforting him on the field. Timothy Weah also approached him after the win to share a few words.
DeAndre Yedlin and Josh Sargent of the United States hug Saeid Ezatolahi of Iran after a Group B match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
The next day, Ezatolahi shared an Instagram story of a childhood picture with Samak, saying in Arabic, “After last night’s bitter loss, the news of your passing has set my heart on fire.”
He added: “One day the masks will come off, the truth will be revealed.”
Iranian players haven’t had the happiest time in Qatar. They reportedly became the target of threats to their families after remaining noticeably silent during the team’s national anthem in their first game against England, which they lost 6-2.
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After threats from the government, they sang the anthem, but with a stern expression. In their second game on Black Friday, they defeated Wales 2-0.
Additional security was required outside the stadium ahead of their game against the USA, and The Guardian added that the guards would make the Iranians unfurl their flags before entry. Some flags had the symbol of the Islamic Republic in the center, while others did not.
The US team posted social media graphics without the symbol, saying it was “support for women in Iran fighting for basic human rights,” but later withdrew due to backlash from supporters of the current regime.
Saeid Ezatolahi of Iran looks dejected after a Group B match between Iran and the United States at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 29, 2022. (Cao Can/Xinhua via Getty images)
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The USA advance to the round of 16 where they meet the Netherlands on Saturday while the Iranian team return home where tensions between activists and the regime remain high.
Scott Thompson is a sportswriter at Fox News Digital.