Ahmadinejad issues order for women to be allowed into sport stadiums

[Iranian Monitor]

Good job so far by Ahmadinejad on a host of issues, notwithstanding the intense propaganda campaign waged against him in the West.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-04-24T103712Z_01_BLA435274_RTRUKOC_0_UK-LIFE-IRAN-AHMADINEJAD.xml&archived=False

Iran president says let women into sports stadiums

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday women should be allowed into sports stadiums for the first time, reversing the Islamic Republic's code preventing them watching men playing sports in big venues.
...
Women have been barred from attending matches, such as national soccer games, in big stadiums and have long complained, particularly when female fans of visiting foreign teams were allowed in.

A state television announcer reported that Ahmadinejad "ordered the head of the sports organisation to provide facilities in the stadiums to watch national matches."

The president was quoted as saying: "The best stands should be allocated to women and families in the stadiums in which national and important matches are being held."

"The presence of women and families in public places promotes chastity," he was quoted as saying.

It follows Ahmadinejad's statement on Sunday saying Iran's strict Islamic dress codes that require women to cover their heads and bodies should not be imposed by force. Police say they would take a softer approach to this summer's campaign on dress.

[Dolemite]

welcome to the 19th century

[Mani]

Finally, Ahmadinejad is learning a thing or two about public relations and diplomacy. Look at the at the background he used in his press conference today. He's become a liberal pacifist overnight. :rolleyes:

http://64.40.99.49/Multimedia/pics/1385/2/photo/343.jpg

[Own Goal Hat-Trick]

so.... women ok, israelies not ok...

and he has done well?? :confused:

[Iranian Monitor]

welcome to the 19th century
The "issue" that existed with regard to letting women to watch major sports events had little to do with discrimination aimed at women. Iranian women are an important part of the work force in Iran, work in all fields, and enjoy considerable rights and influence in both private and public spheres in Iran.

The objection to letting women to attend major stadium was the male crowd that were attracted to soccer games were often rowdy, accustomed to using foul language and foul chants. There were also safety considerations letting what would inevitably be a small number of women in a stadium filled primarily with unmarried teens and men in their twenties who make up most spectators in soccer games in Iran. Some argued that atmosphere was simply not very safe or uncomfortable for women to attend. Ahmadinejad's rebutal is that letting women in the stadiums will inevitably also have the effect of 'cleaning up' the atmosphere as well, as the foul language and chants will change when women are also in attendance.

[Anthony]

The objection to letting women to attend major stadium was the male crowd that were attracted to soccer games were often rowdy, accustomed to using foul language and foul chants. There were also safety considerations letting what would inevitably be a small number of women in a stadium filled primarily with unmarried teens and men in their twenties who make up most spectators in soccer games in Iran. Some argued that atmosphere was simply not very safe or uncomfortable for women to attend.

I always laugh when I hear that as the explanation.

[Rostam]

I always laugh when I hear that as the explanation.

You should never display, with so much pride, your lack of intimate knowledge and understanding of other countries' culture and social intricacies.

I have been to Azadi with crowds of 80,000+, with average age well below 22, and vast majorty of them come from lower class families (tickets are very very cheap) and many troublemakers amongst them. I would never want to bring any female members of my family into such hostile environment. (just imagine if LA Lakers tickets were sold for ONE dollar, what kinda crowd would you get from East LA....).
Another big factor is that most Iranian families wouldn't want their teen girls in these places unless it's cleaned up.

I have always debated that they must increase the ticket prices substantially and that would bring back families and keep hooligans away. Of course, it would have to be complemented by other security measures.

[odessit19]

You should never display, with so much pride, your lack of intimate knowledge and understanding of other countries' culture and social intricacies.

I have been to Azadi with crowds of 80,000+, with average age well below 22, and vast majorty of them come from lower class families (tickets are very very cheap) and many troublemakers amongst them. I would never want to bring any female members of my family into such hostile environment. (just imagine if LA Lakers tickets were sold for ONE dollar, what kinda crowd would you get from East LA....).
Another big factor is that most Iranian families wouldn't want their teen girls in these places unless it's cleaned up.

I have always debated that they must increase the ticket prices substantially and that would bring back families and keep hooligans away. Of course, it would have to be complemented by other security measures.

Have you ever been to a Raider game? probably not...

[Anthony]

You should never display, with so much pride, your lack of intimate knowledge and understanding of other countries' culture and social intricacies.

I have been to Azadi with crowds of 80,000+, with average age well below 22, and vast majorty of them come from lower class families (tickets are very very cheap) and many troublemakers amongst them. I would never want to bring any female members of my family into such hostile environment. (just imagine if LA Lakers tickets were sold for ONE dollar, what kinda crowd would you get from East LA....).
Another big factor is that most Iranian families wouldn't want their teen girls in these places unless it's cleaned up.

I have always debated that they must increase the ticket prices substantially and that would bring back families and keep hooligans away. Of course, it would have to be complemented by other security measures.

Oh, poor defenseless women. Please protect them from "lower class" types. If their families don't want them there, their families should keep them out of there.

(My parents were born into "lower class" families and my mother was tougher than my dad)

[Rostam]

Oh, poor defenseless women. Please protect them from "lower class" types.

(My parents were born into "lower class" families and my mother was tougher than my dad)

That is a social choice that Iranian society has always made with a bias and extreme pampering of girls/women. I don't always agree with it but most Iranians are very protective of of their wife, mother, sisters,.... Nobody else is in a position to make a judgement call on them.

[Rostam]

Have you ever been to a Raider game? probably not...

No, but I know what you are suggesting. Again, it's a social/cultural choice. Vast majority of Iranian women wouldn't want to be in that kinda environment either, besides the fact that their family would disapprove.

[Anthony]

No, but I know what you are suggesting. Again, it's a social/cultural choice. Vast majority of Iranian women wouldn't want to be in that kinda environment either, besides the fact that their family would disapprove.

So they should stay home. What if someone likes the element?

[odessit19]

No, but I know what you are suggesting. Again, it's a social/cultural choice. Vast majority of Iranian women wouldn't want to be in that kinda environment either, besides the fact that their family would disapprove.

Of course, it's a social/cultural choice and I may not want my daughters to go to Raider game and sit in a Black Hole, but it's not the government who decides that, but the parents. Women should be able to make those choices on their own, regardless of whether it's a good idea or not.

[Rostam]

Of course, it's a social/cultural choice and I may not want my daughters to go to Raider game and sit in a Black Hole, but it's not the government who decides that, but the parents. Women should be able to make those choices on their own, regardless of whether it's a good idea or not.

Well, one can argue that "government" is supposed to uphold the will of the majority. But in this case, some clean up would fix the problem. Stop comparing with elements within your society. That's a wrong approach, you have to see from their cultural prespective.

anyway, women, families do attend other sports, like skiing, car racing.

this is a good thread about car racing in Tehran.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171988

btw, I think this woman's extreme "hejab" is more of a personal choice.

http://www.carx1.com/rally/sorat_15_esfand_1382/bigimages/24.jpg

[Iranian Monitor]

Regretably from my perspective, Ahmadinejad's order to allow women to watch football matches has been vetoed by Ayatollah Khamenie. Ahmadinejad's decision, the correct one IMHO, received a lot of flack from some conservative clerics but Ahmadinejad stood his ground. However, Khamenie's decision is one that Iran's president is obliged under Iran's system to follow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4751033.stm

Iran women sports ruling vetoed

The supreme leader of Iran has vetoed a ruling by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that would have allowed women to attend major sporting events.
...

[Dolemite]

welcome to the 19th century


that didn't last long.

[Scarecrow]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/05/08/bc.soc.iran.women.ap/index.html

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's women will be barred from attending soccer games, a reversal by the president that comes a month before the national team plays in the World Cup.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had ruled in April that he would allow women to go to soccer games and sit in a separate section of the stands. He wanted to "improve soccer-watching manners and promote a healthy atmosphere."

But Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- who under the Islamic Republic's constitution has the final say -- opposed the move.

"The president has decided to revise his decision based on the supreme leader's opinion," Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said Monday.

Well looks like the real ruler decided not to allow women into matches. Guess when the puppet master speaks the puppets better adhere.

[Rostam]

Regretably from my perspective, Ahmadinejad's order to allow women to watch football matches has been vetoed by Ayatollah Khamenie. Ahmadinejad's decision, the correct one IMHO, received a lot of flack from some conservative clerics but Ahmadinejad stood his ground. However, Khamenie's decision is one that Iran's president is obliged under Iran's system to follow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4751033.stm

Is this reversal of the order permenant???

I hope it's just a short term thing till they come up with plans to clean up the stadiums and then allow the women back in.

[Dolemite]

Is this reversal of the order permenant???

I hope it's just a short term thing till they come up with plans to clean up the stadiums and then allow the women back in.




ahhhh.... i see..... the iranian government respects women so much that they dont' want them going into dirty stadiums. or are they not clean becuase of language, violence, or other things? man, your government sure looks out for the common sport-loving woman!

[Anthony]

Is this reversal of the order permenant???

I hope it's just a short term thing till they come up with plans to clean up the stadiums and then allow the women back in.

Yes, women need to be protected from dirty stadia.

I have an idea. If you want to clean up the stadia AND allow women to attend games, why not have a "Lysol Night". Free admission to all women who bring in Lysol and promise to clean up the place.