Athletics controversy in Iran: a group of women ran a marathon bareheaded

An athletic competition that took place over the weekend in Shiraz generated an earthquake in Iranian athletics. It is that in the competition, which ran the same distance as a marathon, some women were seen running without it hijabs, a veil that covers the head and is obligatory in that country. And when images of those runners began to circulate on social networks, the scandal broke.

Such was the extent of the dispute which resulted in Hashem be me resign as president of the Iranian Athletics Federation, despite the fact that this body had nothing to do with the making of the event. And the judiciary of the Iranian province of do he opened a file to investigate “shortcomings, omissions and possible faults of the officials” and summoned those responsible for the test – which was defined as a “destructive act” – to give explanations.

The state news agency IRNA reported that the “marathon” was a “cultural and sporting” event that had brought together not only the athletes who usually compete in these competitions, but also runners with disabilities, children and tourists. And she has posted photos showing girls with their heads covered crossing the finish line.

However, hours later, videos and photos appeared on the networks of women running in the air with caps and hair down. And also of many spectators without hijab. In the images the faces of the participants are not distinguishable, which have been blurred so as not to be identified.

The reaction of the Iranian government was not long in coming. ruhullah najmihead of the athletics team of the province of Fars, reported that “some people who did not respect the dress codes of the Islamic Republic managed to participate in the race despite the presence of 400 police and military”.

The Deputy Minister for the Development of Women’s Sports Maryam Kazmipurone of the most conservative authorities in the country, explained that “all necessary measures” have been taken to avoid problems, “including separate timetables and routes for men and women”.

“But the behavior contrary to the regulation of some subjects who participated in the tender without registration or numbers has created anomalous images”he assured. She added that “no one will be allowed to normalize behaviors that contradict the values ​​of Islamic society and the beliefs of the Iranian people in the name of sport.”

Although Kazmipour pointed out that women who ran without hijabs “snuck” into the race without registering, the video of the start that went viral on Twitter clearly shows several participants with official numbers on their chests and bare heads.

The scandal comes at a time of high tension in Iran, where authorities have stepped up measures in recent weeks to ensure all women abide by the strict dress code that went into effect in the early 1980s, months after the Islamic revolution since 1979.

Is that in the last two years Iranian women have increasingly begun to defy the law that requires them to wear the head covering and the country has been rocked by numerous protests after the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022. This 22-year-old girl was with her brother at a subway station when she was arrested by the police. Moral police presumably for abusing her veil. According to her family and local media, she was severely beaten by the police and died of her beating injuries days later.

Since then, more and more women have dared to challenge the regime and take to the streets bareheaded or wearing clothes prohibited by the country’s dress code.

​In early April, Iranian authorities announced they would install cameras in public places and on public roads to identify and punish veiled women. This did not stop the “revolutionaries” and many were arrested and summoned by the authorities to face lawsuits.