WUNRN
http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-women-sports-stadium-protest/27078991.html
Iran – Hard-Liners Protest Potential Women’s Presence in Sports
Stadiums
In the
past, women in Iran had been allowed to attend some male volleyball and
basketball games. (file photo)
Last year, however, they were banned from entering sports stadium to watch
men's volleyball.
By Golnaz Esfandiari - June 18,
2015
Iranian hard-liners demonstrated in front of the Sports
Ministry in Tehran on June 17 to protest the possible presence of women in
sports stadiums.
The protest followed reports that a limited number of Iranian women could be
allowed to attend two upcoming international male volleyball matches, including
one on June 19.
Iranian women are currently banned from entering stadiums to watch male
sporting events. But earlier this month, Iran's vice president for women and
family affairs, Shahindokht Molaverdi, told the Associated Press news agency
that the ban will be partially lifted and that women will be allowed into
stadiums to watch sports such as men's volleyball, basketball, and
tennis.
Molaverdi's announcement followed criticism by the international soccer and
volleyball officials -- as well as women's rights advocates -- that angered
hard-liners who vowed to fight the initiative.
Amid the controversy, Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was
quoted by domestic media as saying that there are no new
"instructions" regarding the presence of women in sports
stadiums.
Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reported that demonstrators at the June 17
protest in Tehran said allowing women to watch male sporting events is against
Islam and that those behind such moves should be put on trial.
Iran's reformist Shargh daily reported on Twitter that some of the protesters
called for Molaverdi to be dismissed.