<section class="jsx-2404185057 art__ShortDescs">Iran&rsquo;s World Cup team declined to sing the national anthem before their Group B opening match against England on Monday in a sign of support for mass anti-hijab protests back home. Heads held high in pride, eyes steely and lips unmoving, the 11 solemn footballers showed extraordinary courage on football&rsquo;s biggest stage, braving the wrath of the authorities that could follow back home.</section>
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<p id="2">Protests demanding the fall of the ruling Muslim theocracy have gripped Iran since the death two months ago of Mahsa Amini for flouting the strict dress code. Over 400 protesters, including 58 minors, have been killed in the unrest and 17,251 people arrested.</p>
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<p>Before travelling to Doha, the team met hardline Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi. Photos of the players with Raisi, one of them bowing in front of him, went viral while the street unrest raged on, prompting an outcry on social media. At Qatar&rsquo;s Khalifa International Stadium, thousands of Iranian fans jeered and made thumbs-down gestures as the music accompanying the anthem rang out.</p>
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Iran players back anti-hijab stir, decline to sing anthem

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