"We will not allow women in stadiums"

Responding to calls to lift the ban against women entering sports stadiums, hardliners staged a demonstration in Tehran on June 17, two days ahead of an international volleyball game at Azadi Stadium. Led by vigilante group Ansar-e-Hezbollah (“Supporters of the Party of God”), the group shouted slogans, held placards and called for the dismissal of Shahindokht Molavardi, President Rouhani’s vice president for women’s affairs. On June 10, Molavardi announced that some women – mainly family members of athletes playing in the volleyball match — would be allowed to attend Friday’s match, leading to a wave of criticism, including from a cleric at the influential Qom Seminary.

Fars Newsagency 

This article was originally published on June 5 17 2015.