AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA ADVISORY
9 October 2019
Iran: Limited allocation of football tickets
for women a ‘cynical publicity stunt’
for women a ‘cynical publicity stunt’
Iran’s authorities must lift all restrictions on women
attending matches in all football stadiums, said
Amnesty International ahead of Iran’s football
World Cup qualifier against Cambodia at Tehran’s
Azadi Stadium on 10 October.
attending matches in all football stadiums, said
Amnesty International ahead of Iran’s football
World Cup qualifier against Cambodia at Tehran’s
Azadi Stadium on 10 October.
The game marks the first time Iran will allow women
into Azadi Stadium since the shocking death of
Sahar Khodayari, who set herself on fire last month
after being summoned to court to face charges in
connection with her attempt to enter the football stadium.
into Azadi Stadium since the shocking death of
Sahar Khodayari, who set herself on fire last month
after being summoned to court to face charges in
connection with her attempt to enter the football stadium.
The authorities have limited the number of tickets
sold to women to attend tomorrow’s match. Only
four sections of the stadium have been allocated
to women spectators totalling around 3,500 seats.
Azadi Stadium has a capacity of around 78,000 seats.
sold to women to attend tomorrow’s match. Only
four sections of the stadium have been allocated
to women spectators totalling around 3,500 seats.
Azadi Stadium has a capacity of around 78,000 seats.
“Iran’s decision to allow a token number of women into
the stadium for tomorrow’s football match is a cynical
publicity stunt by the authorities intended to whitewash
their image following the global outcry over Sahar
Khodayri’s tragic death,” said Philip Luther, Middle
East and North Africa Research and Advocacy Director
at Amnesty International.
the stadium for tomorrow’s football match is a cynical
publicity stunt by the authorities intended to whitewash
their image following the global outcry over Sahar
Khodayri’s tragic death,” said Philip Luther, Middle
East and North Africa Research and Advocacy Director
at Amnesty International.
“Anything short of a full reversal of the ban on women
accessing all football stadiums is an insult to Sahar
Khodayri’s memory and an affront to the rights of all the
women of Iran who have been courageously campaigning
for the ban to be lifted.
accessing all football stadiums is an insult to Sahar
Khodayri’s memory and an affront to the rights of all the
women of Iran who have been courageously campaigning
for the ban to be lifted.
“Instead of taking half-hearted steps to address their
discriminatory treatment of women who want to watch football,
the Iranian authorities should lift all restrictions on women
attending football matches, including domestic league games,
across the country. The international community, including
world football’s governing body, FIFA, must also ensure that
woman are permitted to attend all matches freely and without
discrimination.
discriminatory treatment of women who want to watch football,
the Iranian authorities should lift all restrictions on women
attending football matches, including domestic league games,
across the country. The international community, including
world football’s governing body, FIFA, must also ensure that
woman are permitted to attend all matches freely and without
discrimination.
“FIFA has a responsibility to respect human rights
throughout its operations and the power under its
statutes to take definitive and urgent action to address
a situation which it has allowed to continue for far too long.”
throughout its operations and the power under its
statutes to take definitive and urgent action to address
a situation which it has allowed to continue for far too long.”
Publicly, FIFA has reiterated its
position that women should be permitted
to enter football stadiums for all matches. Despite
these efforts, Iran’s authorities have not lifted all
restrictions on women attending football matches.
position that women should be permitted
to enter football stadiums for all matches. Despite
these efforts, Iran’s authorities have not lifted all
restrictions on women attending football matches.
Since the beginning of 2018, at least 40 women
have been arrested and some prosecuted for attempting
to enter football stadiums. Amnesty International is
calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately and
unconditionally drop all charges against any woman
facing prosecution for attempting to enter a football
stadium or protesting against such restrictions.
have been arrested and some prosecuted for attempting
to enter football stadiums. Amnesty International is
calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately and
unconditionally drop all charges against any woman
facing prosecution for attempting to enter a football
stadium or protesting against such restrictions.
For more information or to arrange an interview
please contact: Sara Hashash, MENA Media Manager on
please contact: Sara Hashash, MENA Media Manager on
|
|
|
|
posted by Mori A. at
7:29 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home