Reuters - Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad said on Monday women should be allowed into sports stadiums for
the first time, reversing the Islamic Republic's code preventing them
watching men playing sports in big venues.
He was quoted by state television as saying the presence of women and
families would "promote chastity".
Women have been barred from attending matches, such as national soccer
games, in big stadiums and have long complained, particularly when female
fans of visiting foreign teams were allowed in.
A state television announcer reported that Ahmadinejad "ordered the head of
the sports organisation to provide facilities in the stadiums to watch
national matches."
The president was quoted as saying: "The best stands should be allocated to
women and families in the stadiums in which national and important matches
are being held."
"The presence of women and families in public places promotes chastity," he
was quoted as saying.
It follows Ahmadinejad's statement on Sunday saying Iran's strict Islamic
dress codes that require women to cover their heads and bodies should not be
imposed by force. Police say they would take a softer approach to this
summer's campaign on dress.
Some analysts have said the softer line might be because the government does
not want to alienate any part of the population when it is under mounting
international pressure over its nuclear programme.
In the past, women had occasionally scuffled with police when they were
barred from entering stadiums. Some tried to go inside dressed as men or
sneaked in with the foreign fans.
Women have sometimes been allowed into smaller sports venues to watch male
sports, such as basketball or volleyball.
Enforcement of strict moral codes governing women's dress, Western music and
mingling of the sexes became more lax after President Mohammad Khatami's
election in 1997 on a platform of reforms. But even under him, women were
barred from stadiums.
Since Ahmadinejad won the presidency last year with the backing of
conservative clerics and Basij religious militias, hardliners have pressed
for tighter controls on "immoral behaviour". Many expected tougher rules
would follow.
Ahmadinejad was elected after promising a return to the values of Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini's 1979 Islamic revolution.
Initially after the revolution, women were prevented from entering sports
stadiums because men were wearing shorts, but more recently officials have
said the bar was because it was inappropriate for women to be in crowds
where strong language or bad behaviour was expected.
