13. The Blue Girl

Imagine a situation where you are not allowed to enter a football stadium. You may ask, why would such a situation arise? Probably, you forgot your ticket. Perhaps you never purchased a ticket. But in Iran, you are not allowed to enter a football stadium if you are a woman. Shocked? Let me ask you a different question this time. Imagine somebody losing their life because they were barred from entering a stadium.

Since the Revolution of 1979, Iranian women have been prohibited from attending football matches. This is because the government believes that ‘watching men playing football in shorts promotes promiscuity’. Recently, a thirty-year-old Iranian woman set herself on fire after she was detained for trying to attend a soccer match. A few days later, she succumbed to her injuries and died. 

Sahar Khodayari was a fan of the Tehran based football club, Esteghlal FC. Sahar tried to enter Azadi Stadium for a match of AFC Champions League by disguising herself as a man to blend in with the crowd. However, she was caught by security. Sahar spent three night in the jail, and was charged with ‘committing a sinful act of appearing in public without a hijab'. She was also asked to give a reason as to why she tried to enter a football stadium. She was also accused of ‘insulting officials' and was ‘believed’ to be jailed for six months. When Sahar came out of the court after her hearing, she poured petrol and set herself on fire. She was admitted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries with around ninety percent of her skin surface area affected. She died one week later owing to third-degree burns. 

Iran’s government has been criticised over the entry of women in stadiums. Around the world, there has been a demand to ban the Islamic regime's sports federations from participating in world sports. On the other hand, Iran rejects the criticism of its human rights record. According to Human Rights Watch, the sporting ban is not written into law and is rooted in outdated thoughts, but, it is followed ruthlessly. Khodayari has become the symbol of women’s right in Iran. Since February, Sahar was also engaged in physical confrontations with security forces in Iran, mainly due to her refusal to abide by strict Muslim dress code. She has been referred to as the “Blue Girl”- a reference to the colours of her favourite team, Esteqlal. 

Sahar Khodayari’s story is heartbreaking. Her only crime was being in a country where women face discrimination every day. It brings forward the important issue of human rights in Iran. Her death should not go vain. It must spur change in the country to avoid further such tragedies. Football is a sport for everyone, men and women, and everyone should be able to enjoy the game in stadiums.