Iranian Activist: I Will Again Show the Slogan for Women's Presence in Stadiums in Rio

Darya Safai, an activist born in Iran, who went to the stadium during the Iranian national volleyball team's match at the Rio Olympics with a banner about women's presence in stadiums, says she will continue this action despite interventions. Her image with the slogan "Let Iranian women enter their stadiums" has also been reflected in global media. During the coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics, she attended the stadium on August 13 during the match between the Iranian national volleyball team and Egypt, holding a cloth and T-shirt with a similar slogan. Displaying political slogans during the Olympic competitions is prohibited by the global committee of the games. According to reports, security forces at the stadium removed Darya Safai, who had resisted leaving, from the venue. Safai told the Associated Press, "I was told they did not want this slogan shown in front of the cameras." She also mentioned to the Independent that after her slogan was taken away, she was allowed to return to her place in the stadium. This Iranian-Belgian citizen told reporters, "The spirit of the Olympics, which is against discrimination, is exactly what Iranian women need in their country. Watching sports in stadiums should be a right for everyone, both men and women." She stated, "It is sad that [Iranian] women have to travel to Brazil to cheer for their national team." Darya Safai emphasized that she intends to participate in all of Iran's volleyball matches with this same request and slogan. Iranian officials have banned women from entering domestic volleyball stadiums; this issue has been met with international protests, including from the International Volleyball Federation, but it has not affected Tehran's decision.