Dastgir, Khudadadi, and Azizi shared messages on social media as unrest spread in Iran.
Kabul | By Marwa Ahmadi
Several Afghan athletes and sports figures have posted reactions on social media following widespread public protests in Iran and reports of internet disruptions in the country.
Anoush Dastgir, the former head coach of Afghanistan’s national football team and the current coach of a Netherlands Under-18 side, reposted parts of remarks by Iranian artist Max Amini on Instagram, writing that people in Iran are in the streets demanding freedom and human rights.
Zakia Khudadadi, the Afghan para taekwondo athlete known as the first medal winner for the IOC Refugee Team, shared an image referring to internet cut-offs and wrote that Iranian authorities had restricted access as protests grew.
Shahnaz Azizi, an Afghan bodybuilding athlete, also posted about the situation, resharing a text attributed to Dr. Walid that described the protests as bigger than a local issue and linked them to wider global consequences.
Internet slowdowns and restrictions are frequently reported during periods of unrest in the region, and Afghan athletes with ties to international sport often use social media to comment on major developments that affect public life and access to information.