Spalletti told reporters the flowers were to ‘remember’ the two women
Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti brought two roses to a press conference on Friday for murdered Iranian women Mahsa Amini and Hadis Najafi.
A series of protests have taken place in Iran since 22-year-old Amini died after being taken into custody by the Iranian government for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.
Najasi died days later, shot dead after taking to the streets to join a protest against Iran’s strict hijab mandate.
Spalletti appeared with the flowers as he walked into the press conference ahead of his side’s Serie A game with Torino on Saturday.
Asked what they were for, he gave a brief explanation: “They are to remember Mahsa Amini and Hadith Najafi, that’s all I’m adding.”
VIDEO SSCN – Il bel gesto di Spalletti, due rose per Mahsa Amini e Hadis Najafi alla vigilia di Napoli-Torino 🌹🌹 #spalletti #mahsaamini #hadisnajafi #sscnapoli @sscnapoli pic.twitter.com/kGhACCMhHo
— Napoli Magazine (@napolimagazine) September 30, 2022
Also on Friday, rights group Open Stadiums called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to expel Iran from the World Cup because of the way women are treated in the country.
Open Stadiums sent an open letter to Infantino in which they claimed that stadiums in Iran are still preventing women from attending matches, despite pressure from FIFA.
The organisation also highlighted a number of incidents where the Iranian authorities had used violence against women, as well as claiming that a several female journalists and photographers had been arrested and detained for trying to report on sport in Iran.
Related links:
- Rights group call on FIFA to expel Iran from the World Cup
- At least 50 dead after eighth day of anti-hijab protests in Iran, report says
- TikToker Hadis Najafi, 23, killed in Iran protests
