Two prominent marathon organizers in Iran were arrested over the weekend after images emerged showing women competing without hijabs during the event on Kish Island. The arrests are the latest move by authorities to crack down on what they see as a growing threat from Western influence and perceived disrespect for Islamic law.
The two organizers, one of whom is an official in the Kish free zone, were arrested on Saturday following warrants issued by the judiciary. A criminal case has been opened against them, with prosecutors claiming that the event violated public decency laws.
Critics argue that the regime's strict enforcement of its dress code law is hypocritical, especially given the growing visibility of women who defy the rules in public. The protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in 2022 have shown a decline in observance of the hijab rule, and some lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement.
However, President Masoud Pezeshkian's government has refused to ratify a bill that would impose harsher penalties on women who do not wear the dress code. Instead, the authorities are using high-profile events like the marathon to demonstrate their commitment to enforcing Islamic law.
The move is seen as part of a broader crackdown on what some view as Western influences in Iranian society. The regime has been cracking down on dissent and opposition, with several prominent critics and activists already behind bars.
It remains to be seen how this latest development will play out, but one thing is certain: the Iranian government's determination to enforce its dress code laws at all costs will continue to draw criticism from those who see it as a threat to women's rights and freedoms.
The two organizers, one of whom is an official in the Kish free zone, were arrested on Saturday following warrants issued by the judiciary. A criminal case has been opened against them, with prosecutors claiming that the event violated public decency laws.
Critics argue that the regime's strict enforcement of its dress code law is hypocritical, especially given the growing visibility of women who defy the rules in public. The protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in 2022 have shown a decline in observance of the hijab rule, and some lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement.
However, President Masoud Pezeshkian's government has refused to ratify a bill that would impose harsher penalties on women who do not wear the dress code. Instead, the authorities are using high-profile events like the marathon to demonstrate their commitment to enforcing Islamic law.
The move is seen as part of a broader crackdown on what some view as Western influences in Iranian society. The regime has been cracking down on dissent and opposition, with several prominent critics and activists already behind bars.
It remains to be seen how this latest development will play out, but one thing is certain: the Iranian government's determination to enforce its dress code laws at all costs will continue to draw criticism from those who see it as a threat to women's rights and freedoms.
I'm not surprised they arrested these marathon organizers. Like, who doesn't know that in Iran, you gotta wear a hijab at all times? 
It's not exactly a secret. I mean, the whole "not wearing a hijab is haram" thing has been around for centuries... or so I've been told.
It's not like these Iranian women are some kind of anomaly who just magically decided to ditch their headscarves. Women everywhere wear what makes them comfortable, and if that means no hijab, then so be it.
just another example of how govts try to control every aspect of people's lives, news like this always makes me think that we're living in some dystopian sci-fi movie 
. what's next? gonna be some "event" where they force ppl to wear fancy shoes with a certain brand or colour on 'em? 
. And honestly, it's kinda rich that they're cracking down on Western influences when the regime itself has been heavily influenced by the West 
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this is getting ridiculous they're trying to police every single move of these women on Kish Island can't they just let people live their lives? it's like they think the world revolves around the hijab and its all about respecting Islamic law but what about freedom of choice and expression? shouldn't we be able to wear what makes us happy not just because some rule says so? 
women deserve to wear whatever makes them comfortable and express themselves without fear of arrest or ridicule 
isn't everyone still wearing hijabs everywhere in Iran? i remember when they protested after mahsa amini died and now it looks like the government is cracking down on people not following dress code laws again... meanwhile, women are just trying to live their lives without being judged. what's up with that? 
shouldn't we be talking about something more important than who's wearing a hijab in public? 
. It's just so weird that they're using events like this marathon to crack down on "public decency" when we all know it's basically a fancy way of saying "we don't want women to be seen in public without hijabs". 
. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, but I'm not holding my breath that the gov't will suddenly start being all chill about it 
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idk what they were thinkin lol wasnt the point of the marathon to promote fitness & sportsmanship?! and btw im all for women expressin themselves but this is just ridiculous 
idk what the deal is with all these dress code laws in iran anyway its just so... restrictive 
these arrests are a total bummer and it's just so frustrating to see how Iranian authorities are using high-profile events as an excuse to suppress women's rights... can't we all just get along and respect each other's choices? 
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. We need to keep speaking out against these kind of injustices and supporting those who are fighting for their rights 
It's literally so good! I mean, I know what you're thinking, "why are we talking about breakfast cereal in the middle of a news thread?" But honestly, it just popped into my head and I couldn't shake it off. And speaking of shaking things off, those Iranian organizers were totally rocking their no-hijabs look at that marathon. I mean, who says you can't wear whatever makes you feel confident and comfortable? 