Iranian women were reportedly banned from attending a June 19 volleyball game between the United States and Iran at Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex despite a promise by the government to partially lift a ban on female spectators attending male sports events.

The announcement made earlier this month by Iran’s vice president for women’s affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi had been met with criticism by hardliners, with some even threatening to spill blood if women were to attend matches hosted by Iran as part of the International Volleyball Federation’s (FIVB) World League.

On June 17, a small group of hardliners staged a protest in front of the Sports Ministry.

Later the semiofficial ISNA news agency quoted sources inside Iran’s volleyball federation as saying that the “entry of all women to the Azadi Sports Complex during the World League matches has been fobidden.”

Dozens of Iranians inside and outside the country protested the ban on social media.

Iran won the game 3-0.
Radio Farda