Prerevolutionary Iran apparel and flags are banned at the World Cup for this year’s North American sites for the second time in a row, after some fans found it to banned at the 2022 event in Qatar, The Athletic reports.
The prerevolutionary flag is often used in protests by those who are part of the Iran diaspora and as a symbol of identity.
How Iran’s prerevolutionary flag is different
The flag was changed at the conclusion of the Iranian revolution in 1979, when the country became an Islamic state under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
The new flag retained the colors of green, white and red, but replaced the Lion and Sun emblem — featuring a sword representing power, strength and justice — with a new coat of arms that can be interpreted in various ways, including a rendition in Arabic of the word “Allah,” the globe or two crescents, according to Britannica.
Along the color borders of the new postrevolutionary flag, the Arabic inscription “Allahu akbar” (“God is great”) is repeated 22 times.
Why is it banned?
According to The Athletic, when it asked FIFA if the prerevolutionary ban will be enforced, the following list of banned items was the response.
“Any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin color, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.”
BBC reports Iran expressed concerns regarding treatment of the team, national anthem and the Iranian flag, along with other requests, before it competes in the global soccer event.
The demands may influence the ban.
Will the ban be enforced?
Karim Sadjadpour, who works at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace focusing on Iran and U.S. foreign policy, said it would be risky to restrict the prerevolutionary flag.
“Trying to prohibit Iranians in LA from bringing the Lion and Sun flag into the stadium is like trying to prevent Americans from bringing the U.S. flag into an American stadium. It would cause mass unrest,” he told The Athletic.
“World Cup matches best illustrate the passion Iranian Americans feel for their homeland and the contempt they feel toward the Iranian government. Waving the Lion and Sun flag is simultaneously a show of support for the national team and a protest against the regime,” Sadjadpour added.
How vigilant security will be in ensuring prerevolutionary symbols do not enter the stadium remains to be seen.