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Political protest disrupts Iran-U.S. wrestling
Posted: Sunday July 26, 1998 11:21 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Exile groups protesting the militant Islamic government in Tehran interrupted Saturday night's Goodwill Games wrestling match between the United States and Iran. After Behnam Taiebi scored a 5-0 shutout against American Sam Henson in the first match of the night, Tony Purler of the United States entered the ring for his bout against Mohammad Talaie. But Talaie did not appear, and the Iranians refused to wrestle because of protesting fans in the stands. After 20 minutes, Talaie entered the ring waving an small Iranian flag and the match went on. Hundreds of Iranian fans were wearing T-shirts bearing the name and picture of Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance in Iran, and appeared to be the center of the dispute. When the match resumed, a dozen security guards flooded the area where the protest was centered, and large banners bearing the portrait of Rajavi appeared to have been removed. At least eight fans with either Rajavi T-shirts or banners were taken from the hall by city police or Madison Square Garden security. "A group of fans was protesting politically in the stands. The Iranian team leader took offense and left with his team," said Larry Sciacchetano, president of USA Wrestling. "What they asked us to do was to clear the protesters from the arena. We had a hard time convincing them that this is a free society. "We're not about to tell people what they can say or what they can't say. We've explained that to the Iranians. Certainly, we want to continue our good relations. It's terrible when politics have to interfere with sports. This isn't the place for it." He said officials had asked the protesters to keep their signs down, "because they distract the view of other people that have paid to watch these matches. I think we have that right." Sciacchetano aid the Iranian wrestlers "felt like they were being insulted. ... We explained to them that we don't control who comes, and we don't control what they say. But we certainly can control them interfering with other people watching and enjoying the match." John Smith, coach of the American team, said something was said to one of the Iranian wrestlers on the floor that triggered the protest. "They disagree with the politics going on in Iran," he said. "This is not the place. This is a sporting event. It should be about sports." Last month in Lyon, France, there were similar protests during the U.S.-Iran World Cup match, with exile groups wearing T-shirts with the pictures of their leader. FIFA rules barred any political banners or signs from the stadiums. Some fans were ejected by guards when they waved banners. There was no violence and no arrests. Tens of thousands of Iranians left after the 1979 Islamic revolution overthrew the U.S.-supported shah and installed a strict religious government. Many, who are still opposed to the government, have never returned even for a visit. The largest of the organized exile groups is the Mujahedeen Khalq, whose leader is Masoud Rajavi, Maryam's husband and the exile group's president. Many in the near-capacity crowd of 4,854 at the Garden waved small green-white-and-red Iranian flags. American fans favored a raucus "USA-USA-USA" chant. As they were introduced, the wrestlers shook hands, with the Americans handing the Iranians small coins. It was as if old friends were greeting each other; in fact, these wrestlers know each other from previous international meets, most recently the World Cup in April in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The United States came from behind to defeat Iran 19-9, winning the last six bouts of the night. A block away from the Garden, Moslem E. Filabi sat in a hotel lobby, unable to watch the team of the country he once represented and afraid of the stir his presence in the arena might create. For 10 years, from 1966-76, Filabi wrestled on the Iranian national team. He appeared in three Olympics for Iran, won 17 gold, silver and bronze medals in international competitions and was honored as a national hero. He left Iran in 1982, three years after the revolution. "Getting out was not a problem," he said. "Inside was a problem." Filabi believes that remains the case, that his homeland is being pillaged by the current government and that the wrestling team is being used in an effort to repair his nation's image. "Once, Iran was a rich country," he said. "Now it is a poor country." Filabi, a member of Rajavi's group, seeks the overthrow of the current government, which he says is repressive domestically and sponsors terrorism internationally. And, he said, the regime is using the wrestlers solely to improve its image. "They are playing politics," he said. "They say they are ere for sports. They are here to cover up what is going on in my country, the people who are executed, the ones who are jailed. If they are here for sports, why weren't they here five years ago or 10 years ago?" Iran defeated the United States 2-1 in World Cup soccer, setting off huge celebrations in the streets of Tehran. The Iranian wrestlers have been careful to avoid political topics on this trip. When an American team traveled to Tehran in February, the wrestlers were welcomed warmly by the people. Iranian wrestlers who traveled to a World Cup meet in Oklahoma last spring, however, complained of being photographed and fingerprinted by immigration officials when they entered the United States. In the other night match, Russia beat Turkey 20-11. The two afternoon contests had the U.S. beating Turkey 21-9 and Russia knocking off Iran 17-12.
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