Reactions to the Beating of an Iranian Girl in Cage Fighting Competitions

The severe beating of a teenage Iranian girl who entered a cage fight in karate attire has caused distress among some social media users and prompted reactions from Iranian sports officials. This competition took place about two months ago in Armenia, where the Iranian girl fought against an opponent wearing different attire. It is reported that the standards and regulations related to the age category of minors were not applied in this match. A video of the incident, which was posted on YouTube, was shared on Monday morning with commentary by a sports reporter from Radio Farda for Iranian users and subsequently gained traction on social media. The Director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Sports wrote: 'The beating of the Iranian girl in the ring was truly upsetting. We followed up extensively, both with the martial arts federation and karate. Their leaders say they had no delegation for these individuals, and we did not have a request in the Overseas Council because we oppose this type of competition. The presence of these children was personal and unauthorized. We will definitely deal with those responsible and will prevent the activities of the mentioned style.' The karate federation also issued a statement saying: 'This video pertains to the sport of MMA, where athletes compete in a cage. The only reason any viewer might think this athlete is from karate is the karate uniform worn by the teenage fighter!' In its statement, which was published by the Public Relations Officer of this ministry, the karate federation warned all respected parents, requesting that they refer their children for karate activities to styles approved by the federation and report any encounters with unqualified individuals or enticing offers to the karate federation. The martial arts federation also issued a statement denying any connection to the participation of this teenager in professional competitions in Armenia, writing: 'We condemn the very presence of young athletes in professional fights; the act itself is wrong, and the sports apparatus of the country will seriously deal with those who exploit such situations.' The statement from this federation noted: 'Only delegations authorized by the Overseas Council of the Ministry of Sports will be considered valid.'