World Cup - Defying Stadium Ban, Iranian Women Travel 10,000km To Watch Team

Spain plays Iran tonight in Group B of the world cup. The 2010 World Champion, who opened with a 3-3 against European Champion Portugal in what was so far the most thrilling game of the tournament, needs a win against the Persians, and most football connoisseurs have no doubt they will get this. Spain is consistently ranked in the top 5 of world football, while Iran is stuck around the 35th place.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/Iran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Iran</a> supporters calling for gender equality and access to the beautiful game. ���� <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iran</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/genderequality?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#genderequality</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fifa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fifa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/futbol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#futbol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/soccer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#soccer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/equality?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#equality</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/accessforall?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#accessforall</a> <a href="https://t.co/V4zzvCIAFr">pic.twitter.com/V4zzvCIAFr</a></p>&mdash; Andres Zapata (@AzapSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzapSports/status/1007661150597795841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2018</a></blockquote>

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One thing that is new for the Iranians is that there will be women in the stadium watching them, something that is not allowed in Iran itself.

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For this reason, girlfriends Kiana and Paria immediately bought tickets for all group games when Iran qualified last November. It would be their first chance to ever wear the clothes that they only wear inside of the house out in the open. they travelled 10,000 km to get to Russia and see all the games.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“We are here to write our success story” ��<br><br>They face a monumental task with Portugal and Spain in their group. But can IR Iran progress to the Round of 16 at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a>? <a href="https://t.co/K4Yl5li2tH">pic.twitter.com/K4Yl5li2tH</a></p>&mdash; FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1009274137049812995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Paria, wearing denim shorts and a football shirt, explained that “of 30,000 Iran fans here, 10,000 are women.”

“We are not allowed to wear clothes like this outside, but in our homes, yes, we wear this. We do not have to wear hijab yet, but we have to have our hair covered with scarf.”

This sort of attire would result in both girls getting locked up in Tehran, so they are enjoying every bit of it.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/6qd0Jq08n8">https://t.co/6qd0Jq08n8</a> ����</p>&mdash; Proud Mancunian (@sherbetdip2011) <a href="https://twitter.com/sherbetdip2011/status/1008044576689541121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Pedro, Kiana’s boyfriend (all of them didn’t want to give their last names out of fear for reprisal back home in Tehran), commented: “Football is helping a lot to change things.”

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“But it cannot do it alone. Other things have to happen. Political issues. Right now it is a tense moment in Iran. We are hoping for regime change. We cross our fingers.”

Source:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018/06/19/world-cup-2018-exposing-iranian-restrictions-womeni-sent-jail/