Iranian Women Athletes Call for Immediate Release of Mahdieh Esfandiari
Tehran - BORNA - The athletes stressed that Esfandiari’s detention constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression. They urged the international community, human rights bodies, and global sporting institutions to take immediate action to secure her release, emphasizing that silence in the face of such injustice amounts to complicity.
The letter reads in part: “In this new era, where humanity has entered the quantum age of thought and technology, freedom of expression must not be sacrificed to the lobbying of those whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent children.
Mahdieh Esfandiari is the heir of a civilization that centuries ago proclaimed the timeless truth: ‘All human beings are members of one body.’ She spoke out not in the name of politics, but in the name of humanity, declaring that genocide is the disgrace of humanity and the killing of children is the shame of history.
Mr. Secretary-General, remaining silent in the face of her six-month detention amounts to complicity in oppression and legitimization of deceit. We urge immediate action for her unconditional release—an act that would not only defend a courageous individual but also reaffirm the universal values of human rights and humanity itself.”
The athletes underlined that the case of Esfandiari is not only about one individual but about defending the principle of free expression. They declared that sport has taught them to fight for fairness, justice, and mutual respect—values that extend beyond stadiums and must inspire action whenever human dignity is at stake.
Notable Signatories
Sareh Javanmardi – Paralympic shooting champion, multiple gold medalist
Zahra Nemati – Paralympic archery champion, flagbearer of Iran at Rio 2016 Olympics
Najmeh Khedmati – Shooting champion, Asian Games medalist
Neda Shahsavari – First Iranian woman in Olympic table tennis
Elaheh, Soheila, and Shahrbanoo Mansourian – Multiple world wushu champions
Samaneh Beyrami Baher – Olympic cross-country skier
Sara Bahmanyar – Karate world medalist, Asian champion
Pegah Zangeneh – Karate world medalist
Hamideh Esmaeilnejad – Para-athletics sprinter, world record holder
Farzaneh Tavasoli – National futsal team goalkeeper
Fereshteh Karimi – FIFA futsal awards nominee, Asian champion
Parastoo Habibi – National basketball player
Full List of Signatories
Sara Javanmardi, Zahra Nemati, Reyhaneh Mobini, Minoo Modakh, Mahrouz Saei, Mobina Nemat Zadeh, Nahid Kiani, Melika Mirhosseini, Meshkat al-Zahra Safi, Yasaman Yazdani, Neda Shahsavari, Najmeh Khedmati, Elaheh Ahmadi, Hanieh Rostamian, Golnoosh Sebghatollahi, Mobina Fallah, Gisa Baybourdi, Maryam Barbat, Samira Khakkhah, Farank Partoazar, Fatemeh Hemmatizadeh, Nazanin Eidiyan, Hamideh Esmaeilnejad, Melika Norouzi, Zahra Arab Rostami, Elham Hashemi, Mahla Mahroghi, Hanieh Shahouri, Samsa Shahouri, Fatemeh Mojallel, Mahsa Javer, Zeinab Nowruzi, Zahra Alizadeh Saveh, Atna Kiyashmeshki, Samaneh Beyrami Baher, Azamsadat Sanaei, Elham Modir Dehghan, Asal Heidari, Fatemeh Esmaeili, Arezou Izadi, Romina Salek, Taraneh Ahmadi, Fereshteh Eghtedari, Sahel Khorasanzad, Ailar Donyadoust, Fereshteh Hassanzadeh, Fatemeh Hosseini Kohki, Fatemeh Mamani, Zahra Shokoohi, Roghayeh Mohammadian, Mahya Amirkhani Dehbaneh, Asal Zafaranlou, Dina Kalvandi, Mastaneh Seif Abadi, Mobina Ali Nesab, Anahita Zahedifar, Farzaneh Tavasoli, Fereshteh Karimi, Nasimeh Gholami, Sara Shirbeigi, Shahla Behrouzirad, Hiva Afzali, Hadiyeh Kheirabadi, Maedeh Shourgashti, Tania Kargarpour, Tarnam Akbarzadeh, Kiana Kamalzadeh, Roxana Razegian, Anahita Mehtarpour, Atousa Eslami, Hajar Safarzadeh, Sara Adria, Mahla Samiei, Mojdeh Mardani, Maryam Khodabandeh, Zahra Haji Lari, Mina Rastaqi, Mobina Adel Nejad, Elaheh Rezaghi, Kijan Maqsoodi, Seyyedeh Zahra Hosseini, Ghazaleh Hosseini, Ghazal Hosseini, Reyhaneh Karimi, Elaheh Mansourian, Soheila Mansourian, Shahrbanoo Mansourian, Yasaman Bagherzadeh, Zahra Kiani, Fatemeh Khalili, Mobina Vatan Parast, Hadiseh Nowrouzi, Elnaz Ghasemi, Fatemeh Mariakh, Nastaran Farahani Goodarzi, Elnaz Yarmohammadi, Hanieh Karimi, Faezeh Shahriari, Edna Isaian, Kimia Yazdian Tehrani, Sheida Shojaei, Mahla Abedi, Farnaz Khodamoradi, Mahsa Karani, Ghazal Zamani, Delaram Vakili, Hadiseh Nasr Azadani, Faezeh Sadat Abedini Nejad, Shokouh Tiyareh Khajavi, Setayesh Rajabi, Elaheh Pourabdian, Fatemeh Jalilian, Mahdieh Shabani, Melika Boroun, Setayesh Pirnajm al-Din, Shiva Lakzaei, Sara Bahmanyar, Atousa Golshad Nejad, Pegah Zangeneh, Fatemeh Sadeghi, Farahnaz Arbab, Maedeh Shams Ebrahimabadi, Zeinab Milayi, Zahra Zare, Maedeh Rangraz Zadeh, Afsaneh Hessamifard, Kezhan Rostami, Faezeh Ashourpour, Masoumeh Ghadami, Laia Afzooni, Maryam Ghazirad, Hasti Vahedi, Mobina Karimi, Aytak Salamat, Nasrin Shahi, Zahra Gholamzadeh, Faezeh Ahmadi, Roghayeh Shojaei, Parastoo Habibi, Elham Salehi, Hashemieh Motaghian, Zeinab Moradi, Leila Kabokzan, Elnaz Darabian, Hanan Kaab Amir, Faezeh Dibaee, Atna Mohammadiha, Batoul Jahangiri, Vajiheh Houshmand, Fereshteh Moradi, Fatemeh Haji Siaari, Farzaneh Jamshidi Nejad, Atareh Akhavin, Zahra Namazi, Fatemeh Hemmati, Somayeh Rahimi, Farzaneh Asgari, Maryam Yavarpoor, Mahdieh Mohammadian, Zahra Aghaei, Niko Rouzbahani, Helia Hajiabadi, Fatemeh Yousefi, and Seyyedeh Leila Mousavi.
This collective action by some of Iran’s most respected athletes, including Paralympic and Olympic champions, highlights the intersection of sports and human rights in global politics. By leveraging their international reputation, these athletes are amplifying a call that goes beyond national boundaries: a demand for freedom of expression, justice, and accountability.
At a time when governments are often accused of double standards, the involvement of athletes underscores how civil society—through the universal language of sport—can pressure international institutions to act. The letter serves not only as a defense of Mahdieh Esfandiari, but also as a reminder that the credibility of human rights depends on the courage to defend them consistently, regardless of political expediency.
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