By MARYAM NAMAZIE - FREETHOUGHT BLOGS - MARYAM NAMAZIE
Updated: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:50:01 UTC

[Update 14-Nov] Some clarifications and updates from other news sources. The players are "permanently banned" but may be "spared" the 100 lashes.

The BBC report says they've been banned indefinitely and fined - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15533927

Iranian.com doesn't mention any further sanctions - http://www.iranian.com/main/2011/oct/mohammed-nosrati-back-squeezer

Foxsport says there could be further sanctions but doesn't say what they might be - http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/soccer/story/Iran-suspends-2-players-for-immoral-celebration-53897771

(Both the Iranian.com and Fox Sports reports originate with AP.)

Several sports websites repeat the claim

And Globalpost.com makes it clear that Iranian experts, even those promoting human rights there, say a fine is the most the players are likely to get, even though the possibility of jail and 74 lashes can't be ruled out. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-casbah/iranian-soccer-players-could-receive-74-lashes-goal-celebrati

The Islamophobia watch police have been busy criticising French weekly Charlie Hebdo for poking fun at Mohammad, Islam’s prophet, rather than condemning the firebombing of its offices for daring to speak about Islam. The ‘offending’ cover had Mohammad saying ’100 lashes if you don’t die laughing’. This they found completely inappropriate. However, around the same time, two Iranian footballers, face actual lashings for a buttock squeeze (see video below) and the Islamophobia watch police are predictably silent.

The ‘crime against chastity’ of the footballers you may ask? Persepolis defender Mohammed Nosrati squeezed teammate Sheis Rezaei’s bottom to celebrate a goal.

The punishment for this public display of ‘immorality’ is lashes and imprisonment; they have also been indefinitely suspended by the Football Association.

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TAGGED: ISLAM