Iran Arrests Marathon Organisers on Kish Island for Allowing Women to Run Without Hijabs

Judicial authorities in Iran have arrested two organizers of a marathon held on Kish Island off the southern coast after images surfaced online showing women competing in the race without wearing compulsory hijabs. The arrests, which took place on Saturday, follow mounting criticism from ultraconservatives who accuse the authorities of failing to adequately enforce the mandatory headscarf law amid fears of increasing Western cultural influence.

The arrests target one official from the Kish free zone and an employee of the private company that organized the race, which attracted approximately 5,000 participants on Friday. According to the judiciary’s Mizan news website, a criminal case has been opened against the organizers for holding an event that “violated public decency” and disregarded “previous warnings regarding the need to comply with the country’s current laws and regulations.”

The incident highlights the ongoing tension over the enforcement of Islamic dress codes. Although women are required to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothing in public, observance of the hijab rules has become more sporadic since the 2022 demonstrations that followed the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. The arrests come shortly after a majority of Iranian lawmakers accused the judiciary of failing to uphold the law, prompting the chief justice to call for stricter enforcement measures.