FIFA World Cup: Iranian players skip national anthem to support anti-government protesters

Prior to Monday's World Cup match between Iran and England in Qatar, the Iranian team did not perform the national anthem. In order to support Iranian anti-government demonstrators, the squad would "collectively" determine whether or not to refrain from singing the national anthem prior to the game, according to captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

Iran has been gripped by nationwide protests since the middle of September, when Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died while being held by the police. On September 17, Amini was detained by the police for "not properly donning her hijab." The Islamic republic is currently in a state of anarchy as a result of her death. What began as a protest has evolved into a national uprising as people challenge such regressive laws that have become commonplace in society and are frequently utilised to threaten women's rights.

The violent crackdown by the State on what is being described as one of the largest protests in the country since the Islamic revolution of 1979 has drawn increasing attention from across the world. According to Reuters, quoting an internal news agency, approximately 280 protesters had been slain in the crackdown as of November 3; yet, despite repeated warnings from the Iranian government, people have continued to demonstrate.