The Iranian Ministry of Sports has reacted to public pressure and announced it has plans to designate a section of stadiums to female spectators.

The ministry’s deputy for women’s sports, Robab Shahrian, told ISNA that the ministry will implement a new plan designating specific areas in stadiums for women to attend all athletic events.

Shahrian reported that she has spoken to the Iranian Volleyball Federation chief and emphasized that Iranian women have a legitimate demand to access sporting events. She added that the issue becomes more critical as Iran plans to host a number of sports championships where female spectators would have to be accommodated.

Ghoncheh Qavami, one of the Iranian women arrested last July demanding entrance to a stadium in Tehran to watch the Iran- Italy volleyball game, is currently in jail.

The judiciary maintains that the charge of propaganda against the regime that she faces is not connected with sports. However Iranian authorities are being pressured by Iranian activists as well as international organizations to release her.

Iran recently lost out to Argentina in its bid to host the youth volleyball championships, and although no official link was made to Qavami’s arrest, the decision has been interpreted as a reaction to her situation.

Radio Zamaneh