Iran: Woman loses life for wanting to watch football match
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Sahar Khodayari, 29, dressed as a man to enter the stadium and root for her favourite football team Esteghlal FC.
In a horrifying incident, a woman in Iran lost her life simply because she wanted to go to the stadium and root for her favourite football team.
29-year-old Sahar Khodayari took her life when she learnt that she could face imprisonment for entering a football stadium. For the unversed, Iranian women have been barred from entering a stadium since 1981.
Khodayari dressed as a man to enter the stadium and root for her favourite football team Esteghlal FC.
She was arrested and on September 2 she learnt that she could face a six-month jail term for her 'crime'. Khodayari took her life by self-immolation.
Her death has outraged the global community. Reactions have poured in from all over various social media platforms.
I have a platform and I have never been afraid of raising my voice when in need.This is a tragedy and it can’t continue anymore. @FIFAcom it’s time to act and not be silent.WE need to help the women of Iran fight against gender apartheid.This is about human rights!#SaharKhodayari https://t.co/UE4r071Niv
— Kosovare Asllani (@KosovareAsllani) September 10, 2019
Iran's #BlueGirl, who set herself on fire after she was arrested for trying to enter a football stadium, has died. Iran is the only country in the world that bans & punishes women for seeking to enter stadiums. We call for this discriminatory ban to end. https://t.co/CNrmRIIjKk
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) September 10, 2019
I have cheered on this nation, and enjoyed the quality of game they bring. However, your laws and discrimination towards women are utterly ridiculous. Boycott their stadiums, and force them to grow up 🇮🇷 #bluegirl
— Caleb Whiteman (@calebswhite) September 10, 2019
A young woman, known as the #BlueGirl, set herself on fire after getting a jail sentence for trying to enter the football stadium. Iranian women call on @FIFAcom to demand that the Islamic Republic end the ban on female attendance in stadiums.@FIFAWorldCup
— Fereshteh Molavi (@fereshtehmol) September 10, 2019
The club Esteghlal FC expressed its inability to even support a loyal fan. Football players from across the world are now demanding FIFA take an action with global bodies like the United Nations demanding action against Tehran.
This is not the first time when Tehran has come under the scanner for its attitude towards its women. In July this year, it was reported that Iranian women could face a jail term up to a decade for posting their pictures online without their headscarves or hijab.
Earlier this year, Iran hired 2,000 morality police to punish women who refused to wear the compulsory hijab in public.
Reformists lawmakers point out that morality police has been a failure.