Iran Seizes Assets of Former National Football Team Captain Who is Now a Critic in Exile

JAKARTA - Iranian authorities on Monday announced the seizure of six properties allegedly linked to former national football team captain Ali Karimi, who is now living in exile and is highly critical of Tehran.

Iran's judiciary has repeatedly warned that those deemed to have acted against national security will face asset seizures following the January protests and amid the war against Israel and the United States.

Karimi, who played for Bayern Munich during his career and was nicknamed "Asian Maradona" for his prowess on the field, in his social media posts supported protests against the clerical authorities and also voiced support for the monarchy overthrown by the Islamic revolution.

Iran's judicial Mizan news agency described Karimi as "one of the traitors of the homeland who has actively supported the enemy in recent years," as reported by Al Arabiya and AFP, Tuesday (12/5).

It is stated that two commercial units and four residential units belonging to Karimi "have been identified and seized on the basis of a court order for the benefit of the public."

Karimi himself has not commented.

In 2022, he was charged by Iranian authorities in absentia for supporting protests that erupted that year over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating strict dress codes for women.

In April, the judiciary said authorities had released the assets of Zahra Ghanbari, captain of Iran's women's soccer team, which had been seized after she filed and later withdrew an asylum claim in Australia.

Karimi is known to be among a group of six players and one support staff member who sought asylum in Australia in March. Five of them, including Ghanbari, later changed their minds and returned home.

The Iranian men's team are scheduled to play in the World Cup in the United States in June, a trip that is under tight scrutiny because of the war.