Mizan Online, a news website affiliated with the judiciary, reported that arrest warrants were issued immediately after the competition. One of the two individuals arrested is an official from the Kish Free Trade Zone, while the other works for the private company that organized the event.
The event attracted over 5,000 participants. Images circulating online showed many female runners not adhering to the dress code in effect since the early 1980s.
Local prosecutors stated the organizers ignored warnings about legal compliance and held the event in a manner violating public decency and moral standards. A criminal case has been initiated to address those involved.
Conservative news agencies, such as Tasnim and Fars, criticized the competition as indecent and offensive to Islamic laws, which have been enforced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
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Two Iranian women wearing headscarves walk in Enghlab Square in Tehran, Iran, on 24/6. *AFP* |
Athletes competing at the Kish Island marathon on 5/12. *Pazan Trailrunning*
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Athletes competing at the Kish Island marathon on 5/12. *Pazan Trailrunning*
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Athletes competing at the Kish Island marathon on 5/12. *Pazan Trailrunning*
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Athletes competing at the Kish Island marathon on 5/12. *Pazan Trailrunning*
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Athletes competing at the Kish Island marathon on 5/12. *Pazan Trailrunning*
In Iran, women are required to wear headscarves and loose-fitting clothing in public, according to laws enacted after 1979. Violations can result in fines or imprisonment, with enforcement traditionally handled by the morality police.
However, widespread protests erupted following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested for allegedly violating dress code regulations. This led to a loosening of hijab compliance.
This situation has sparked debate between conservatives advocating stricter enforcement and reformists supporting relaxation. Parliament has repeatedly pushed for bills to increase penalties, but President Masoud Pezeshkian's government has refused to approve them, fearing increased social unrest.
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Earlier this week, a majority of Iranian parliament members criticized the judiciary for not being strict enough in enforcing hijab laws. Subsequently, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei called for stricter handling of violations.
In 2023, the president of Iran's Athletics Federation also resigned after several female athletes competed in Shiraz without headscarves.
