A former member of Iran's women's football team claims she has been banned from the sport after being photographed with her hair uncovered abroad.
Shiva Amini shared photos on Instagram showing her playing friendly matches in Switzerland and Italy, competing in shorts and without Iran’s compulsory hijab veil.
“I never thought that I would one day be prevented from playing for my country because I appeared unveiled and was wearing a pair of shorts in a photo taken on a personal trip outside of Iran,” she told the My Stealthy Freedom women’s rights campaign.
“This was not even an official game. It seems that for the sports community in Iran, the veil carries greater importance than sport.
“I don’t know what our country’s officials are trying to prove by suspending people like me whose primary pre-occupation is give a better reputation to Iran.” [The Independent] Read more
