Khamenei: Women's Cycling in Public Spaces is Not Permissible

The leader of the Islamic Republic stated that women's cycling in public places is "not permissible." According to ISNA news agency, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized in response to an inquiry published on Sunday, December 5, that women's cycling "is not permissible in places where they are exposed to non-mahram." The newspaper Vaghaye Ettefaghieh reported on September 4 last year, citing a member of the 'Inquiries' unit of the leader's office regarding the ruling on 'adult women's cycling,' that Ayatollah Khamenei stated, "Regarding cycling and motorcycling, it is permissible as long as it does not attract the attention of non-mahram or lead to corruption; therefore, one must pay attention to the conditions under which they cycle and how it is done. If the mentioned points are observed, it is permissible." However, conservative websites published statements from the leader made on December 8, 1996, during a meeting with officials of the Physical Education Organization, where he said that cycling "for girls in the streets of Tehran... is not appropriate" and that in sports, "the display and self-presentation of women is forbidden." According to Jam-e Jam Online, Shahindokht Molaverdi, the then Deputy for Women's Affairs of the President, tweeted on September 5 last year: "According to the leader's office, women's cycling is permissible with adherence to Sharia principles." Nevertheless, the Tehran police prevented a family group cycling event planned as part of the 'Car-Free Tuesdays' campaign less than two weeks later on September 16, 2016. The 'Car-Free Tuesdays' campaign was proposed by environmental activists in Arak province and had the support of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization, which even announced that it would provide loans for purchasing bicycles. On August 5, 2016, after the opposition of Imam Mustafa Shirzadi, the Friday prayer leader of the main mosque in Marivan, against women's cycling, the police in that city confiscated the bicycles of several women participating in the 'Car-Free Tuesdays' program and arrested some of them. Following this incident, over a thousand residents of Marivan and civil activists signed a letter addressed to the Women's Affairs Office of the Presidency and local officials protesting the prohibition of women's cycling in the city. Subsequently, a group of women in Tehran on September 2, 2016, cycled in Valiasr and Enghelab streets holding placards with statements attributed to the leader of the Islamic Republic that "women's cycling is both religiously and legally permissible." Amidst the restrictions and increasing criticism from civil activists against the limitations on women's cycling, Ayatollah Khamenei's office announced on September 20, 2016, in response to an inquiry from Fars News Agency that "women's cycling in public and in the view of non-mahram often attracts men's attention and exposes society to temptation and corruption, which is contrary to women's modesty and must be avoided; however, if it is not in the view of non-mahram, there is no problem." The leader of the Islamic Republic also stated in response to an inquiry that unmarried women and men can read a temporary marriage contract over the phone to legitimize their virtual relationship, and it is not necessary to know the other party, as "it suffices that the counterpart is known in the contract." The office of Ayatollah Khamenei stated that "writing is not enough, but reading the contract over the phone and similar methods with the necessary conditions is permissible." He also announced that "one of the conditions is that, according to obligatory caution, in marriage with a virgin girl, the permission of her father or paternal grandfather is required, and without it, the contract is not valid." The leader of the Islamic Republic had previously stated in response to an inquiry about joking between men and women in virtual spaces and 'following and liking' the opposite sex that "in general, contact with non-mahram, which may lead to 'haram' actions, is not permissible." Some other Shia clerics have also issued similar fatwas on this matter. Meanwhile, close associates of Ayatollah Khamenei have repeatedly criticized the impacts of virtual spaces in Iran. On September 14, 2015, in his decree appointing new members of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, the leader assigned missions such as "cleaning the virtual space," "accelerating the establishment of the national information network," and "preventing cultural and social damages" to this council.