Spanish adventurer walking to World Cup in Qatar imprisoned in Iran: Reports

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - A Spanish adventurer walking from Madrid to the World Cup in Qatar was reportedly arrested in Iran after visiting the grave of Mahsa Amini, the young woman whose death has triggered ongoing protests.

Santiago Sanchez began his pilgrimage by foot from Spain in early January to see the football tournament. Throughout his journey, he posted on social media.

On Oct. 2, just after the 41-year-old said on Instagram that he was crossing the border into Iran, his family said he disappeared.

More than three weeks later, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported that Sanchez is being held by Iranian Intelligence in a detention center in Sanandaj.

The Spanish daily El Pais and Iran International, a Persian language broadcaster based in London, also confirmed the story.

Reports said Sanchez was arrested after visiting Amini’s grave in Saqez, near the northern Iraq border he crossed on his way to Qatar.

Sanchez is a former paratrooper who previously rode his bike from Spain to Saudi Arabia.

He appears to have been caught up in the protests that continue to rage 40 days since Amini was killed in police custody for allegedly not correctly wearing her hijab.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said in late September that it arrested nine foreign nationals from Germany, Poland, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Sweden in connection with the protests.