Anger as Iran maintains ban on women attending sporting events

Activists in Iran are angry that women have again been barred from watching a volleyball game against the USA, despite earlier indications they could attend.

There had been reports Iran's sporting federation would permit a limited number of women to watch Friday's game, which Iran won 3-0.

But opposition from the conservatives appears to have led the federation to backtrack.

The Islamic country traditionally bars women from male sporting events.

However, in recent months the relatively moderate government of President Hassan Rouhani appeared willing to bow to pressure from activists and international sporting bodies and ease restrictions.

Shahindokht Molaverdi, Iran's Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, told reporters last week that a limited number of women - mainly players' family members - would be allowed to attend the volleyball game against the US.

And earlier this week, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) said it had been assured by Iran that women would be allowed to join spectators for the tie at Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Sports Complex.

But activists' fears were realised on Friday night when women were prevented from watching the game. Female journalists were also denied entry, according to Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency.

The decision led to a protest on social media, with thousands tweeting using the hashtag #LetWomenGoToStadium.

There were reports of heavy security around the arena with protests having been discussed on social media - with a Facebook page called 'Women's Revolution' inviting people to demonstrate outside the stadium.

Religious hardliners had reacted angrily to the apparent softening of restrictions.

Ansar-e Hezbollah, a religious vigilante group, issued a statement earlier this week likening female spectators to prostitutes and calling on its supporters to prevent them from entering the stadium.

The group's statement read "we are taking a stand against legalising the presence of prostitutes… in stadiums,"  adding "this Friday there will be blood."

Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Alavi Gorgani added "we didn't rise up in an Islamic Revolution for the right of women to enter sports stadiums."

Women's presence at sporting events has led to tensions between Iran's religious hardliners and its more progressive elements.

The issue made international headlines in June 2014 when a group of women protested by entering the Azadi stadium to watch a volleyball game between Iran and Italy.

They were arrested with one of the protestors, British-Iranian Ghoncheh Ghavami, held in jail for five months.

Image shows female supporters of the Iran team during the 2105 AFC Asian Cup.

25th January 2015 - AFC OFFICIAL ‘HAPPY’ TO BAR WOMEN SPECTATORS FROM STADIA

5th November 2014 - BRITISH-IRANIAN WOMAN JAILED FOR A YEAR FOR TRYING TO ENTER A SPORTS ARENA

20th September 2014 - WOMEN’S RIGHT TO ATTEND SPORTS EVENTS AT CENTRE OF IRAN’S CULTURE WARS