Qom Seminary Teachers' Association Criticizes Women's Presence in Stadiums

The Qom Seminary Teachers' Association issued a statement criticizing the presence of women in Iranian stadiums and implicitly attacking the Hassan Rouhani government. The statement attacked "some officials" who, according to the teachers' association, "are polarizing the country's atmosphere."

The Qom Seminary Teachers' Association issued a statement criticizing the presence of women in Iranian stadiums and accusing "some officials" of "marginalizing women at every opportunity and polarizing the country's atmosphere."

This organization, which is close to the so-called fundamentalist movement, in its statement, the text of which was published in Iranian media today, Wednesday, October 30, referred to the "unparalleled Arbaeen march this year" and called on "all officials" to strive "to spread Islam in all its dimensions."

The statement of the Qom Seminary Teachers' Association also states that during the Arbaeen period, "we witnessed some carelessness in the country in the form of pushing women into men's gyms. This is undoubtedly not on the path of reviving religion and practicing the values ​​of Islam and the revolution."

After a long dispute between the world football governing body FIFA and sports officials in the Islamic Republic, Iranian women were finally able to attend the Iran-Cambodia match at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium for the first time on October 8, 2019. FIFA had threatened to ban Iranian football from the sport if women were again banned from stadiums.

Most of the religious authorities and high-ranking clerics, Friday imams, and representatives of the Leader of the Islamic Republic in various institutions, commanders of the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the police force, senior officials of the judiciary, and media affiliated with the fundamentalist movement are among the staunch opponents of women's presence in stadiums. On the other hand, Hassan Rouhani's government and officials from the Ministry of Sports and the Iranian Football Federation have tried to support women's presence in sports stadiums in a very cautious manner.

Iranian women were previously only allowed to attend stadiums with an official invitation and in exceptional circumstances. There have been many instances where female football fans disguised themselves as men and entered stadiums or attempted to attend.

Criticism of “some officials”

The Qom Seminary Teachers' Association, in its recent statement, stated that "the main duty of the Islamic regime's officials is to solve economic problems," and claimed that "unfortunately, it seems that some officials are trying to marginalize and polarize the country at every opportunity, instead of solving the aforementioned problems."

This fundamentalist organization has pointed to the efforts of "some officials" to "polarize" the atmosphere in society, while Ahmad Khatami, the interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran and second vice president of the Qom Seminary Teachers' Association, had previously used the same term to criticize Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Last October 8, Ahmad Khatami, in response to Rouhani's remarks calling the first parliament "the best parliament in the history of the Islamic Revolution," which, according to him, did not have the oversight it has today and even the People's Mojahedin Organization participated in, said: "I am clearly seeing and hearing that some of the announcements and statements reek of polarization."

Mohammad Yazdi, the head of the Qom Seminary Teachers' Association, also attacked Hassan Rouhani last August, saying to him: "How can someone who has the authority to enforce the will dare to do things that go against the leadership's orders; such as opposing cyberspace, etc. If you cannot govern the country, step aside."

It seems that the recent statement by the Qom Seminary Teachers' Association, in addition to criticizing the presence of women in stadiums, also pursues electoral goals by emphasizing "solving economic problems" as the "main duty of the regime's officials."

The statement was issued less than four months before the 11th parliamentary elections. As the elections approach, various ruling factions in Iran have already begun their activities to gain a greater share of the vote.

Previously, the speech on October 21 by Ahmad Jannati, Secretary of the Guardian Council and Chairman of the Assembly of Experts, at the opening ceremony of the assembly's session, which was interpreted as an attack on the Rouhani government and the 10th parliament, sparked much debate in Iranian political and media circles due to its electoral "signals."

Jannati, stating that “I have no hope for the current managers,” called for people to demand and said: “We are working for the day when they are replaced by young and revolutionary managers so that we can be freed from this humiliation and predicament we have found ourselves in.” Jannati also emphasized the strictness of the Guardian Council in reviewing the qualifications of candidates for the 11th Majlis elections, which will begin on March 2nd.

Source: DW