Deny entry to Iranian footballer for glorifying violence
The Issue
As an Iranian who witnessed the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, I found the goal celebration by Iranian football player Mohammad Mohebi deeply disturbing. For many Iranians, mimicking a shooting motion is not a harmless gesture. It evokes painful memories of innocent people who were shot, injured, or killed during protests. Sports figures should unite people, not remind victims of violence and repression.
Mohammad Mohebi's gesture during a recent football match has not only angered but also hurt those who have suffered due to the violent suppression of peaceful protests in Iran. His celebration, seen by many as glorifying the violence used against protesters, sends a harmful and insensitive message.
In a world where athletes hold significant influence over the hearts and minds of millions, it is crucial that their actions promote peace and unity, not violence and division. By mimicking a shooting motion, Mohebi has trivialized the suffering of many and disregarded the emotional scars left on those who have experienced loss and trauma due to the repression of peaceful demonstrations.
Mohammad Mohebi's entry into the United States should be contingent upon a public apology and a commitment to use his platform to promote peace rather than glorifying past horrors. Allowing him entry without accountability would imply tacit approval of his actions and contradicts the values of peace and human rights the United States stands for.
I urge the U.S. authorities to take a firm stand against violence glorification. Denying entry to Mohammad Mohebi sends a message that the international community is supportive of the Iranian people's struggle for peace and their right to protest without fear. This action would reaffirm the U.S.'s dedication to human rights and its support for those who have been silenced by violence.
Sign this petition to help ensure that sports remain a beacon of hope and unity, not a platform for endorsing violence and oppression. Together, we can send a strong message that the glorification of violence has no place in our world.
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The Issue
As an Iranian who witnessed the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, I found the goal celebration by Iranian football player Mohammad Mohebi deeply disturbing. For many Iranians, mimicking a shooting motion is not a harmless gesture. It evokes painful memories of innocent people who were shot, injured, or killed during protests. Sports figures should unite people, not remind victims of violence and repression.
Mohammad Mohebi's gesture during a recent football match has not only angered but also hurt those who have suffered due to the violent suppression of peaceful protests in Iran. His celebration, seen by many as glorifying the violence used against protesters, sends a harmful and insensitive message.
In a world where athletes hold significant influence over the hearts and minds of millions, it is crucial that their actions promote peace and unity, not violence and division. By mimicking a shooting motion, Mohebi has trivialized the suffering of many and disregarded the emotional scars left on those who have experienced loss and trauma due to the repression of peaceful demonstrations.
Mohammad Mohebi's entry into the United States should be contingent upon a public apology and a commitment to use his platform to promote peace rather than glorifying past horrors. Allowing him entry without accountability would imply tacit approval of his actions and contradicts the values of peace and human rights the United States stands for.
I urge the U.S. authorities to take a firm stand against violence glorification. Denying entry to Mohammad Mohebi sends a message that the international community is supportive of the Iranian people's struggle for peace and their right to protest without fear. This action would reaffirm the U.S.'s dedication to human rights and its support for those who have been silenced by violence.
Sign this petition to help ensure that sports remain a beacon of hope and unity, not a platform for endorsing violence and oppression. Together, we can send a strong message that the glorification of violence has no place in our world.
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Petition created on June 16, 2026