Some Iranian
cities have parks exclusively for women. In these parks they are totally free to
dress as they wish; they might jog or ride a bike – oh, the last isn’t possible
in all parks, but I’ve seen women riding a bike despite a negative fatwa on
women’s bike riding.
Criticism
comes both from women’s activist, who argue: “These parks are an insult and I
will never go there. I refuse to be secluded in a reservation,” and from
conservative Iranian men, The Guardian: “ … that parks where headscarves can be
removed will only “cause confusion” among women, because they might start
doubting the necessity of covering themselves up in public at all times.” Women
in the parks however are happy to walk around uncovered, do sports and sunbathe.
Taking
photographs inside the park is forbidden, but you know how it is with
smartphones nowadays.
Some of
the men in my group were a bid annoyed be denied access, but the women came out
to take our photographs of have photographs together with the foreigners.
Links:
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