An Iranian female football player was reportedly forbidden to attend an international tournament as her husband refused her permission to have her passport renewed.
Niloufar Ardalan was due to travel to Malaysia to take part in the Asian Football Federation Women’s Futsal Championship, however, her husband’s refusal to have her passport renewed prevented her from participating in the competition. Under Iranian law, a married woman has to get permission from her husband to travel abroad.
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“My husband didn’t give me my passport so that I can (take part) in the games, and because of his opposition to my travel abroad, I [will] miss the matches. I wish authorities would create (a solution) that would allow female athletes to defend their rights in such situations,” Ardalan said.
PHOTO: DAILY MAIL
Ardalan’s husband, sports journalist Mehdi Toutounchi, has reportedly refused to let his wife travel as he wants her to be at home for their seven-year-old son’s first day at school.
Read: Iran women being reduced to ‘baby-making machines’: Amnesty
Ardalan, also known Lady Goal, had participated in weeks of training and is now appealing the government to exempt sportswomen from the law. “As a Muslim woman, I wanted to work for my country’s flag to be raised (at the games), rather than traveling for leisure and fun,” she reportedly added.
The issue ignited a heated debate in Iran, with many calling it a domestic issue which needs to be resolved by the couple.
Many took to Twitter to share their views on the Iranian law and in support of Ardalan:
Football player Nilufar Ardalan was to compete for #Iran till husband Mehdi Tutunchi confiscated her passport. http://t.co/RPWGASDqsM
— Catherine Weibel (@CatherineWeibel) September 15, 2015
Iran footballer decries travel laws: Iranian women's football star Niloufar Ardalan wants travel restrictions … http://t.co/Z0XQHONmRT
— osinluopeyemi (@osinluopeyemi) September 15, 2015
Iranian woman football player, Niloufar Ardalan is banned from international tournament by hubby who used Islamic Law http://t.co/x4MqNeMHel
— Fawzia Suleman (@Fawzia786) September 16, 2015
New post: " Iranian woman football player banned by her husband from attending international tournament after he … http://t.co/JWGHD8Z8LP
— Lee Levy (@thekingleelevy) September 16, 2015
Iranian footballer Niloufar Ardalan will miss the Asian Cup. Despite training, her husband legally forbids her travel pic.twitter.com/k1sPsqmhzI
— Martha Huntzicker (@MortdeNikiya) September 14, 2015
Soccer star Niloufar Ardalan – forbidden from traveling by her husband – will miss Asian Cup http://t.co/ubFQGYNHYm pic.twitter.com/5oQiOZQYQv
— Tavaana (@Tavaana) September 15, 2015
This article originally appeared on The Daily Mail
The post Iranian husband forbids footballer wife from international tournaments appeared first on The Express Tribune.