27-year-old female footballer killed during protests by state gunfire

Zahra Azadpour was shot by Iranian state security forces during protests in Tehran.

The killing of Zahra Azadpour adds to a long list of victims of the violent crackdown on protests in Iran. The 27-year-old footballer, who played for the Arab States League, was killed by forces of the Islamic Republic during the uprisings in Karaj, west of Tehran.

Azadpour was widely known for her performances with the Mehregan Pardis team of Tehran and had previously played for Azarah and Sabah. She had also been invited to training camps for the Iranian women’s national team, and in addition to football, she was an experienced mountaineer, having climbed peaks such as Mount Damavand and Spilet.

According to Iranian sports journalist Mojtaba Pourbakhsh, Azadpour’s body was handed over to her family three days after her killing, and her funeral was held in Islamshahr, where she grew up.

For many female athletes in Iran, the very act of participating in sports is an act of resistance. The oppression of women in sport in Iran is deeply rooted and institutionalized.

Female athletes are required to compete within a strict framework of rules, characterized by the mandatory use of the hijab during training and matches.

At the same time, women’s sports are severely underfunded. Many teams lack basic infrastructure, medical support, and stable salaries, forcing athletes to cover the costs of participation themselves. Restrictions on spectator attendance and minimal coverage of their sports by state media make them even more “invisible.”

“KORÇA BOOM”