IRAN: Iranian authorities have arrested two organisers of a marathon on Kish Island after images surfaced showing women running without hijabs, the judiciary confirmed on Saturday. The incident has reignited debates over the enforcement of Iran’s strict dress code for women, which has been mandatory since the early 1980s.
The judiciary’s official Mizan Online website reported that the two individuals arrested include one official from the Kish Free Zone and another from the private company that organised the marathon. Authorities have also opened a criminal case against the organisers for violating public decency and disregarding prior warnings to comply with Iran’s laws and religious principles. Around 5,000 participants took part in the race, according to local media reports.
The marathon images quickly circulated online, showing several female runners not adhering to the country’s strict hijab rules. The arrests come amid growing criticism from ultraconservatives, who accuse the judiciary of failing to enforce the mandatory headscarf law. In recent years, many women in Iran have increasingly challenged the hijab mandate, particularly following nationwide protests in 2022 triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in custody after being detained over an alleged dress-code violation.
Conservative-aligned media outlets, including Tasnim and Fars News Agency, condemned the marathon as “indecent” and disrespectful to Islamic laws that have been enforced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian women are legally required to cover their hair and wear modest, loose-fitting clothing in public, but enforcement has become more inconsistent, prompting calls from ultraconservative lawmakers for stricter measures. Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei emphasized the need for tighter enforcement following the recent incidents, while President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government has refused to ratify a parliamentary bill that would have imposed harsher penalties on women violating the dress code.
This is not the first time sporting events have drawn attention over hijab violations. In May 2023, the head of Iran’s athletics federation resigned after women participated in an event in Shiraz without headscarves. The latest arrests on Kish Island underscore the ongoing tension between conservative authorities seeking to uphold traditional laws and the growing movement among Iranian women challenging compulsory dress codes in public spaces.
As public debates continue and more women assert their right to choose their attire, the judiciary’s actions in Kish signal a renewed effort to enforce regulations, highlighting the persistent struggle between evolving social norms and long-standing legal mandates in Iran.
