A group of current and former Iranian athletes say they have no choice but to turn on their own country, citing what they called state-sponsored violence and discrimination against ordinary Iranians, especially women.
The group, containing former champions in sports such as karate, judo and wrestling, and including those living in exile and based in their homeland, is taking a stand.
Last week, in conjunction with a Spanish law firm, they sent a letter to world soccer's governing body FIFA demanding their own country be withdrawn from next month's World Cup.