The Attorney General's Attack on Women's Entry into Azadi Stadium

The Attorney General of the country described "films" showing women attending Azadi Stadium to watch the live broadcast of the Iran-Spain football match, claiming they were "without hijab and dancing and singing," as "a disgrace." According to the IRNA news agency, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said on Sunday, July 3, that the "enemies" of the Islamic Republic are striking under various pretexts, including "under the pretext of creating a joyful atmosphere and allowing families to watch football." He claimed that some women at Azadi Stadium "removed their hijabs" and engaged in "singing and dancing," and that events occurred that are "shameful" to mention. Last Wednesday, after much struggle and waiting, women were able to watch the live broadcast of the national team's match against Spain at Azadi Stadium. Families, including both women and men, were able to watch the game together at the stadium. This event drew criticism from some conservative media, including the Kayhan newspaper. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior responded to Kayhan's criticism on Sunday, stating that the successful experience of families attending Azadi Stadium indicates the effectiveness of the Ministry of Interior's decision and is an example of a successful effort to respond to a social demand. Additionally, Abdolazim Rezaei, the deputy governor of Tehran, announced that the Iran-Portugal football match on Tuesday would be broadcast live at the 100,000-seat Azadi Stadium "with the presence of families." Since the 1979 Revolution, women's entry into stadiums to watch matches has been banned. This prohibition has even led some Asian and global federations, including volleyball, to warn Iran that if women are excluded from stadiums, Iran will face sanctions. However, in some volleyball matches, a limited number of women are allowed to attend selectively. Nevertheless, some social media users reported that on Sunday, several women were allowed to enter the stadium to watch the Iran-Germany volleyball match without prior selection or a predetermined list. Over the years, many women's rights activists, social activists, athletes, and various citizen groups have worked to lift the ban on women's entry into stadiums. Recently, several prominent Iranian women wrote a letter to FIFA on Friday, July 1, asking the organization to demand that the Islamic Republic "completely end the ban on women's presence in stadiums." Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a directive allowing women into stadiums in 2006, but it was not implemented due to opposition from religious authorities. Officials in Hassan Rouhani's government also promised to resolve the issue of women's entry into stadiums, but this promise has yet to be fulfilled.