Unusual reason: Two marathon organizers arrested in Iran
Jan Novak
L'expert de Dailysports
On Saturday, Iranian authorities detained two main organizers of a marathon on Kish Island after women took part in the race without wearing head coverings, defying the country's mandatory hijab law.
According to the Mizan agency, citing the Kish prosecutor, the incident was deemed to contradict public morality norms. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the organizers, and officials are calling for strict and deterrent measures.
Under regulations established following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran are required to wear hijabs and loose-fitting, modest clothing in public. However, in recent years, compliance with this rule has noticeably declined, a trend that has sparked discontent within some segments of the political leadership.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized that women should not be forced to wear the hijab, but more than half of the parliamentarians this week accused judicial authorities of being too lenient and demanded stricter enforcement. In recent months, authorities have already shut down several cafes and restaurants for violating the compulsory hijab law.
