Since the country´s Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iranian women have not been allowed to attend soccer matches, and they were generally banned from the stadiums.
Islamic law in Iran places broad restrictions on women – women need a male guardian´s permission if they want to go to work or travel and divorce is a male prerogative. In court the word of one male witness is enough while two women are needed to testify.In terms of inheritance, a woman’s share is limited to only half of what is due a man.
In the end of April the Iranian president Mahmoujd Ahmadinejad allowed women to attend soccer games. They had to sit in a seperate section, away from the male viewers.
„The presence of families and women will improve soccer-watching manners, and promote a healthy atmosphere“, he said.
Shorly after that permission the Ayatollah Khamenei – who has the final say in all matters of state – vetoed this decision. Ayatollahs and parliamentarians protested against the president's decision, arguing that if women looked at the body of a male stranger they were in breach of Islamic law.
First public women´s soccer match
Participation in international sports events is not always allowed for Iranian women. Recently a match between a German and an Iranian team was organised in Teheran, the capital of Iran. Despite a lot of hurdles (the Germans had problems procuring visas) the women finally had the chance to play – fully covered of course.
Thousands of women were acclaiming the match – men had to stay outside.
Sources: BBC News, USA Today, Der Spiegel