An athletic race held over the weekend in Shiraz triggered an earthquake in Iranian athletics. It is that in the competition, which completed the same distance as a marathon, some women could be seen running without the hijab, a veil that covers the head and is mandatory in that country. And when images of those runners began circulating on social media, scandal broke out.
Such was the magnitude of the controversy, that it led Hashem Siami to resign from his position as president of the Iranian Athletics Federation, despite the fact that that body had nothing to do with the realization of the event. And the judiciary of the Iranian province of Fars opened a file to investigate "deficiencies, omissions and possible culpability of officials" and summoned those responsible for the test - which was described as a "destructive action" - to give explanations.
The state news agency IRNA reported that the "marathon" was a "cultural and sporting" event that had attracted not only athletes who usually compete in these competitions, but also runners with disabilities, children and tourists. And she posted photos showing girls with their heads covered crossing the finish line.
However, hours later, videos and photos of women running with caps and loose hair appeared on the networks, in the air. And also of many spectators without hijab. In the images, the faces of the participants are not distinguished, which were blurred to prevent them from being identified.
The NGO "Center for Human Rights" shared photos of the competitors with their faces blurred. Photo Twitter @ICHRI
The Iranian government's reaction was not long in coming. Ruhullah Najmi, head of the athletics team in Fars province, 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."
Deputy Minister of Women's Sports Development Maryam Kazmipour, one of the country's most conservative authorities, explained that "all necessary measures" had been taken to avoid problems, "including separate schedules and routes for men and women."
"But the behavior contrary to the norms of some individuals who participated in the race without registration or bibs created anomalous images," he said. He added that "no one will be allowed to normalize conduct that contradicts the values of Islamic society and the beliefs of the Iranian people in the name of sport."
While Kazmipour pointed out that women who ran without hijab "sneaked" into the race, without having registered, the video of the start that went viral on Twitter clearly shows several participants with their official numbers on their chests and bare heads.
The scandal came at a time of heightened tension in Iran, where authorities in recent weeks stepped up measures to ensure all women comply with the strict dress code that came into force in the early 1980s, months after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In the last two years, Iranian women increasingly began to defy the law that obliges them to wear their heads and the country has been rocked by numerous protests since the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022. That 22-year-old was with her brother in a subway station when she was arrested by the Moral Police allegedly for miswearing her veil. According to her family and local media, she was brutally beaten by police and died from injuries from the beating days later.
Since then, more and more women have dared to challenge the regime, taking to the streets with their heads uncovered or wearing clothes prohibited by the country's dress code.
In early April, Iranian authorities announced they would install cameras in public places and thoroughfares to identify and punish unveiled women. That did not stop the "revolutionaries" and many were arrested and summoned by the authorities to face judicial cases.
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