Kish Beach Volleyball; Iranian Women Again Denied Entry to the Stadium

Reports indicate that Iranian officials have once again prevented female spectators from attending the ongoing World Beach Volleyball Championships held on Kish Island. The International Human Rights Campaign in Iran reported that security forces on Wednesday, February 17, also 'prevented women from entering the spectator stands.' According to this report, Iranian women 'not only could not watch their national team's game but were also deprived of watching matches between other countries.' In the first two days of the competitions, Iranian women were also not allowed to enter the stadiums. The Associated Press had previously reported that the International Volleyball Federation granted the Iranian Volleyball Federation permission to host these competitions in Kish on the condition that female spectators would also have the opportunity to watch the matches up close. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the International Volleyball Federation stated after two days of competitions without female spectators that this issue was due to a 'security misunderstanding.' Mohammad Reza Davarzani, the head of the Iranian Volleyball Federation, implicitly stated on February 6 that the presence of women as spectators at these competitions was permissible, saying: 'Considering that Kish is considered a tourist island in Iran, most teams and guests will be present on this island with their families.' Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Iranian women have gradually been banned from attending stadiums to watch men's sports competitions.