Iran Turns Away Female Volleyball Fans After U-Turn On Ban

Female Iranian volleyball fans were "turned away" from an int'l match against the U.S. in Tehran on Friday, as authorities "backtracked on promises to ease the ban on their attendance," according to Golnar Motevalli of BLOOMBERG. Both the interior ministry and Women's & Family Affairs VP Shahindokht Molaverdi "signaled in recent weeks that restrictions would be loosened." But spectators, female journalists and even Iranian Volleyball Federation (IRIVF) Deputy Dir Zohreh Mirsepasi were "told by officials at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran that their entry passes had not been authorized." Among the restrictions on women in the Islamic Republic is a "ban on attending men's spectator sports," such as football, swimming and wrestling, because officials said that the atmosphere at stadiums can "become un-Islamic and inappropriate." The IRIVF confirmed that a small number of women who are friends or family of the players were "invited to Friday's game and will be seated in the foreign guests enclosure" (BLOOMBERG, 6/19).