Increased Demands for Women's Presence at Azadi Stadium

Media outlets, newspapers, athletes, and a group of civil activists report an increase in requests for women's attendance at Azadi Stadium to watch the football match between Iran and Syria. Jam-e Jam Online, affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, reported on August 3 that ahead of this 'ceremonial' match, the presence of women in stadiums is being pursued 'more seriously than ever.' The website stated that 'barriers to women's presence in stadiums are being removed one by one' and 'many want women's presence in stadiums' to begin with the Iran-Syria football match. Elham Farahmand, an Iranian female footballer, also requested on her Instagram page that the government of Hassan Rouhani prepare for women's attendance at the match on September 5. Farahmand expressed hope that on this day, women could celebrate 'the national football team's qualification for the World Cup and the return of women to Azadi Stadium.' Maryam Irandoost, who retired from football and coaching in protest against the dissolution of the women's football team Malavan, also called for women's presence at Azadi Stadium on her Instagram page. Irandoost wrote: 'September 5, 2017, is a glorious host for the celebration of qualification. I wish we could share in this national event alongside our men, just as we do in elections.' She added, 'I hope we do not have to wait another year to enter the stadium and watch the national football. I want to start the national path from Tehran; otherwise, Russia is very close.' The newspaper Vaghaye Ettefaghieh also published a report on August 3 about the increased requests for women's attendance at Azadi Stadium, including the requests from these two athletes. The newspaper wrote: 'Women have been longing to go to football stadiums for nearly four decades and have been seeking a way to lift this ban for nearly three decades.' According to Vaghaye Ettefaghieh, 'the last and first time after the revolution that a few women were able to watch a football match at Azadi Stadium was during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in the match between Iran and Bahrain.' The newspaper further noted that after that day, the situation for women's attendance at stadiums 'worsened' and 'the ban on women's attendance spread from football to other sports.' In another part of its report, Vaghaye Ettefaghieh mentioned the increasing requests to Hassan Rouhani for women's presence at Azadi Stadium, stating that 'it is said that in the coming days, some national team players will also raise their support for women's presence in stadiums on their Instagram pages.' Masoud Soltani Far, the Minister of Sports and Youth, also responded to the formation of a campaign requesting women's attendance on September 5, telling the newspaper Qanoon: 'Someone has made a suggestion, but it is not very serious.' Mr. Soltani Far added that 'to allow families into stadiums, we need the cooperation of all responsible agencies and support from cultural and religious authorities, and this must happen in a non-controversial atmosphere.' Reports indicate that a campaign has recently emerged in Persian social media calling for women's attendance at the 'ceremonial' match between Iran and Syria at Azadi Stadium. This campaign was initiated by female national team and premier league footballers, and several of them have sent a letter to Hassan Rouhani requesting women's presence at Azadi Stadium. The newspaper Tamashagaran Emruz also covered this campaign in its front page on Wednesday (August 4), stating that female footballers are calling for women's presence at Azadi Stadium. A group of advocates for women's presence in stadiums has also recently joined this campaign on social media with the hashtag 'Iran_Syria_Now_for_Women.' Women's attendance at Iranian stadiums to watch men's sports competitions has been banned for years, but women's rights activists and civil and media activists continue their efforts to lift this restriction. They have used every opportunity over the years to express this demand and to realize it, gathering in front of stadiums during some major international sporting events held in Iran and calling for entry. The governments of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani have also repeatedly spoken directly and indirectly about their agreement with women's presence in stadiums over the past 12 years, but none of them have been able to lift this ban. Shiite clerics residing in Qom and a group of conservative clerics in Iran are named as the staunchest opponents of women's presence in stadiums, which has so far prevented the realization of the promises made by some government officials. In recent years, numerous reports have emerged about the secret entry of some girls and women into Iranian stadiums disguised as men, which in some cases has led to the arrest of some of them. Over the years, some women have also managed to enter sports halls for men’s competitions in a limited manner, which has also faced criticism from women's rights and civil activists. A group of women's rights activists say that the Islamic Republic officials have been forced to selectively allow some women into stadiums to avoid certain international sports restrictions against Iran, which they deem unacceptable. They argue that women's attendance at stadiums to watch men's sports competitions should be allowed, and women should be able to watch these competitions alongside men.