Leader of the Islamic Republic: Women's cycling in public places is forbidden
In response to a question about women riding bicycles, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared it forbidden in public places and in the sight of non-mahrams.
The website of the Office of the Leader of the Islamic Republic published a question on Sunday, September 19, in the Islamic rulings section, asking Ayatollah Khamenei's opinion on women riding bicycles.
This question refers to a news release on social media attributed to the office of the Leader of the Islamic Republic stating that women are permitted to ride bicycles, provided they observe religious guidelines, and asks whether it is permissible for women to ride bicycles on the street.
According to this site, Ayatollah Khamenei has stated in response to this question: “It is forbidden for women to ride bicycles in public gatherings and in places where they are visible to non-mahrams.”
Not long ago, Shahindokht Molaverdi, the Iranian President's Deputy for Women and Family Affairs, wrote on Twitter that according to the office of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, women are not prohibited from cycling as long as they adhere to Islamic religious standards.
Following the publication of this message on Twitter, the Fars News Agency also separately raised a religious question about the conditions for women to ride bicycles and published the response from Ayatollah Khamenei's office as follows: "Women's cycling in public gatherings and in the presence of non-mahrams often attracts the attention of men and exposes them to sedition and corruption in society, and is contrary to the chastity of women. It is necessary to abandon it, and there is no problem if it is not in the presence of non-mahrams."
Although there is no law banning women from cycling in Iran, police occasionally deal with this issue on the streets. This is despite some government officials considering cycling in big cities as a way to reduce air pollution and traffic.
Source: Voice of America
