Iran national track and field team sex scandal
On 31 May 2025, South Korean police arrested two Iranian male athletes, Hossein Rasouli and Masoud Kamran, along with national team coach Amir Moradi, on charges of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old South Korean woman.[1][2][3]
Description
The 2025 Asian Athletics Championships were held in Gumi, South Korea from May 29 to June 3.[4] Iran was also sent to the competition with a mix of athletes, coaches, and federation officials.[5] The Iranian national team had previously won medals in several Asian competitions and was expected to perform positively.[6]
This refers to a controversial incident that occurred on May 31, during the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.[7] In this incident, two athletes and a coach from the Iranian national team were arrested on charges of gang rape of a young Korean woman.[8] The incident received widespread coverage in domestic and international media, and was accompanied by critical reactions towards the management of the Iranian sports convoy.[9]
On the evening of May 30, 2025, three members of the Iranian team, Amir Moradi, Masoud Kamran, and coach Hossein Rasouli, met a 20-year-old woman at a bar and invited her to their hotel.[10] According to South Korean police, the woman claimed to have been gang-raped.[11]
She used her mobile phone to send police her location from inside the bathroom.[12] South Korean police immediately responded and arrested the suspects at the scene.[13] The individuals were questioned and an official investigation was launched.[14]
Reactions
In South Korea
The Gumi police announced that an investigation was underway with the presence of an official translator.[15] Korean media published the news under the title "Iranian athletes gang rape Korean woman" and called for serious legal action.[16]
In Iran
As the news spread in the international media, the Ministry of Sport and Youth sent a delegation to South Korea to investigate the matter.[17][18][19] People gathered to demand the dismissal of Ehsan Haddadi, the head of the Athletics Federation.[20][21][22]
Legal action
South Korea's penal code provides for penalties of up to seven years in prison for gang rape.[23] The Iranian suspects are currently in temporary detention and the legal process is ongoing.[24] The Iranian embassy in Seoul has also entered the matter.[25]
References
- ^ "Iranian athletes, coach arrested for gang rape of Korean woman during Asian Athletics Championships". The Week. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Parliament enters into the rape case of athletes in South Korea; calls for resignation of the head of the Athletics Federation". RFI (in Persian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iranian athletes arrested in Korea over alleged sexual assault - The Korea Times". Korea Times. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iranian Track and Field Team Members Accused of Sexual Assault in South Korea". WANA. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Two Iranian Athletes, Coach Arrested in South Korea on Sexual Assault Charges". Iran Wire. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iranian athletes arrested in South Korea over alleged sexual assault". Iran International. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iran soccer official suspected of sex harassment". AP News. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iranian athletes arrested in South Korea over alleged sexual assault". Iran International. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Four Iranian Athletes Remain In South Korea Amid Sexual Assault Investigation". Iran Front Page. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iranian athletes hid in a room and attacked and "gang-raped" a 20-year-old girl". Iran Intertnational (in Persian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Rally and clashes call for resignation of Athletics Federation President". BBC News (in Persian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iranian runners arrested in South Korea on charges of "sexual assault"". Al Arabiya (in Persian). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Four Iranian athletes accused of gang-raping a Korean girl". DW (in Persian). Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Gang rape: Four Iranian athletes remain in custody". DW (in Persian). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Two Iranian athletes and a coach arrested on rape charges in South Korea". Iran Wire (in Persian). Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Number of Iranian athletes detained in South Korea rises". Axar.Az. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iran Athletics Federation Issues Apology After Reported Sexual Misconduct Arrests In South Korea". ifpnews.com. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Sports minister orders thorough probe into athletes' misconduct in South Korea". IRNA News. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Members of the Iranian national team arrested on rape charges in South Korea, and the head of the federation herself has a history of "rape"". Voice of America (in Persian). 4 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "An alleged gang rape of Iranian athletes in South Korea shakes politics in Iran". sportsin.biz. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Iranian Sports Chief Denies Knowing Athletes' Assault Despite Own Criminal Past". Iran Wire. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "A state-run newspaper: Iranian runners also committed theft in South Korea, Ehsan Haddadi will be dismissed". Iran International (in Persian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Lawyers for female victim of Iranian athlete's "gang rape": Iranians demand punishment for defendants". Iran International (in Persian). 4 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Sports News: Hotel for Iranian athletes accused of gang rape in South Korea under tight security". Iran International (in Persian). 2 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "News Agency: Possibility of long-term imprisonment for Iranian athletes in Korea". DW (in Persian). 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.