The Iranian Judiciary’s news agency has reported the arrest of Rashid Mazaheri, the former goalkeeper for Iran’s national football team and the Esteghlal Tehran club, while he was allegedly attempting to illegally leave the country.
This comes after IranWire had previously learned from informed sources in Iran that security forces raided the residence of the former Esteghlal, Sepahan, and national team goalkeeper in the early hours of Wednesday, February 25. During the raid, authorities confiscated all of his communication devices, including mobile phones and laptops, and deleted his Instagram post regarding the late Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei.
According to a report published by Mizan, the official media outlet of the Judiciary, Mazaheri was detained in recent days near Iran’s western borders while attempting an “unauthorized exit from the country.” The outlet claimed that he altered his appearance and attempted to bribe border guard officials to cross the border.
The report further stated that claims regarding the former player being held in solitary confinement are untrue, and that he is currently being held in the general ward of the prison.
The Judiciary also announced that a legal case involving charges of “bribing a government official,” “propaganda activities against the regime during wartime,” and “attempting to illegally leave the country” is currently being processed against the sports figure.
