Iran wrestling champion speaks out against country's treatment of female athletes amid soccer player concerns

Former Iranian wrestler Sardar Pashaei, for illustration many, feels interest astir nan Iranian women's shot players who are returning to their location state aft not opinionated for nan nationalist anthem and being offered asylum by Australia. 

Pashei, who won nan 1998 World Youth Championship, knows really athletes who protestation are treated successful Iran, and he particularly knows really female athletes are treated there. 

"If you are a woman, you person a different furniture of discrimination. You know, truthful it's a intersexual harassment. It's forcing you to deterioration thing that you don't want. And also, arsenic a woman, you are banned from galore sports," Pashaei told Fox News Digital. 

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Pashaei has seen adjacent friends who are female athletes look this favoritism and are pursued by nan regime.

"I cognize Soheila Farahani, she was a skipper of nan nationalist volleyball team. She was sentenced to 74 lashes because location was a image of her without hijab went public. So, this is nan benignant of illustration of nan favoritism that they're facing," he said. 

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"Shaqaiq, 1 of my bully friends who was a skipper of handball squad … she was nether a batch of pressure. And now I deliberation she lives successful a state that she does not want to make it nationalist because of her safety. Because nan Islamic authorities really went aft her, moreover extracurricular of nan country, successful European ungraded to bring her back."

Three of nan six Iranian women's shot players who accepted asylum successful Australia are returning to Iran. Tina Kordrostami, a councilor for nan Australian City of Ryde, told Fox News Channel's "Fox Report With Jon Scott" Saturday that nan athletes are facing threats against their families.

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"I cognize families person moreover been detained. I cognize family members are missing. One point I really would for illustration for group successful nan West to understand is that Iranians wrong nan state person successful galore ways fixed up connected nan West, and they are only relying connected 1 different to past this regime," Kordrostami said. "Coercion is being utilized here, intimidation tactics."

Pashaei says he wouldn't beryllium amazed if nan players person "a forced confession." 

"So, nan authorities wants to opportunity they're loyal to their government. This was each alleged playing a crippled of nan enemies. And I americium judge they will beryllium nether pressure, investigated," Pashaei said. 

Pashaei remembers erstwhile he was competing pinch nan difficulties that came pinch representing Iran nether nan Ayatollah.

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Iranian players airs for a squad photograph up of a Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer against nan Philippines successful Robina, Australia, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP, File)

"They ever nonstop nan information group alongside pinch nan team. They watch you. They wanna support nan beingness of nan authorities correct beside you. So, you consciousness that always," he said. 

"I retrieve erstwhile we were traveling, nan members of intelligence agencies were stepping down our doors overnight, truthful we don't spell out. As soon arsenic we went to nan restaurant, they went there, took each of nan alcoholic beverages, you know, pork nutrient distant from us."

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