Iranian Goalkeeper Sosha Makani Arrested For Posting “Indecent” Pictures

Sosha Mankani, goalkeeper for the Iranian National team and Iranian club side Persepolis, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly posting “indecent” photos on the Internet. According to legal expert Hossein Raeesi, however, the arrest is unlawful.

The pictures, which can now be found on various Iranian websites, depict Mankani with several women; they were also briefly on his Instagram account, but have since been deleted.

Under Iranian law, it is illegal to post indecent photos of himself or others online. There are doubts, however, that Makani posted himself, which would result in a different legal situation.

“Given his lawyer’s statements [regarding the hacking of Makani’s account] and the fact that he is a famous person, I doubt he posted the photos himself,” Raeesi told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

This distinction is further clarified by the Campaign, which explains:

According to Article 17 of the cyber crimes law, “Any person who publishes private or family photos or videos of others through the Internet without their permission, in such a way that causes them harm or disrepute, will be punishable from 91 days to two years in prison or fined from five million rials (about $168) to 40 million rials (about $1340) or both.”

Makani has been released from prison and returned to his team, according to BBC Persia, but the investigation into the pictures is still ongoing.

Photo: Iran goalkeeper Sosha Makani by Steindy via WIkimedia Commons

Article by Joe Kozlowski