Female Athletes Banned from TV

Islamic nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE can't give their female Olympians the attention they deserve, it's too naughty.

For years, Iranian women have been active in regional and international sports competitions, but religious laws in Iran prevent women from being seen on television without an Islamic hijab. While Iranian women play sports dressed in the traditional hijab, their international competitors do not -- and therefore cannot be shown in Iranian broadcasts.

For this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, however, Iranian authorities might allow state television to broadcast the women's events. Ali Asghar Purmohammadi, who is responsible for broadcasting sports programs for Iran's state-run television, has said he is pressing Iranian authorities to give special permission to show women competing in the Olympic Games next month.

There are just three women among the 53 Iranian athletes who will compete in the Beijing Olympics from August 8-24, with one woman each competing in rowing, archery, and tae kwon do.

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Many Iranian sportswomen say they find it difficult to move in heavy, loose clothes -- especially in hot weather. Besides, they have to pay close attention to make sure that their hair or the skin on their arms or legs does not unexpectedly show while they are competing. Such "mistakes" in the heat of competition can result in a heavy price being paid by the women athletes.

I bet.

Indeed, the pressure from religious leaders on the issue is strong. Ayatollah Alam Alhoda is one of many influential clerics who virulently oppose women's involvement in any sports activity. During a sermon after recent Friday Prayers in the Mashhad city mosque, the ayatollah said it is "unlawful" for women to participate in sports.

Another Iranian mullah said that women should not ski because "during skiing they have to move their knees and it looks more like dancing than sport."

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Tae kwon do and kickboxing are hugely popular among Iranian women, but some mullahs say they are bothered by the fact that at the end of a match the male referees must hold the female competitors' hands in order to raise the hand of the winner.

So much for Islam elevating women.

Related news from GSGF:

Iran's Culture Ministry on Sunday announced the closure of nine cinema and lifestyle magazines for publishing pictures and stories about the life of "corrupt" foreign film stars and promoting "superstitions."

The Press Supervisory Board, a body controlled by hard-liners, also sent warning notes to 13 other publications and magazines on "observing the provisions of the press law," the ministry said on its Web site.