Judicial authorities in Iran have detained two key organisers of a marathon event after online photographs emerged showing female participants running without the mandatory Islamic headscarf, or hijab.
Event on Kish Island Sparks Controversy
The incident occurred during a marathon on Kish Island, a resort area off Iran's southern coast, on Friday. The event reportedly attracted around 5,000 participants. Circulating images from the race clearly showed a number of women competing with their hair uncovered, in direct violation of the country's strict dress code laws.
In response, the judiciary's Mizan news agency announced the arrests on Saturday. "Two of the main organisers of the competition were arrested on warrants," the agency stated. It identified one as an official within the Kish free zone organisation and the other as an employee of the private company that managed the race.
Judiciary Opens Criminal Case
A criminal case has been formally initiated against the organisers. The local prosecutor was quoted by Mizan saying the event had "violated public decency" despite prior warnings to adhere to Iranian laws and religious principles. "Considering the violations that occurred and based on the laws and regulations, a criminal case has been filed against the officials and agents organising this event," the statement read.
The arrests come at a time of heightened tension within Iran's political establishment regarding the enforcement of hijab rules. The government faces mounting criticism from ultra-conservative factions who accuse it of being too lenient and failing to stem perceived Western cultural influence.
Broader Context of Hijab Enforcement
Observance of Iran's compulsory hijab law has become notably more inconsistent since the nationwide 2022 protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman detained for an alleged dress code violation. The wave of dissent presented a significant challenge to the regime's authority on this issue.
Just this week, a majority of Iranian parliamentarians criticised the judiciary for not upholding the hijab law more rigorously, prompting the chief justice, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, to call for stricter enforcement. However, the government of President Masoud Pezeshkian has so far refused to ratify a parliamentary bill that would impose harsh new penalties on women not adhering to the dress code.
This is not the first time a sporting event has caused controversy over the hijab. In May 2023, the head of Iran's athletics federation resigned after a similar incident in the city of Shiraz, where women participated in a sports event unveiled.
Conservative media outlets in Iran, including Tasnim and Fars news agencies, condemned the Kish Island marathon as indecent and disrespectful to Islamic laws that have been enforced since the 1979 Revolution.
