Pictures that speak a thousand words

May 21st, 2006 | By: Afshin Afshar | 10 Comments »

An Iranian female fan watches as Team Melli practicees

I can’t help getting emotional when I see pictures showing Iranian female fans of Team Melli watching their heroes’ practice session. Perhaps very symbolic but the picture of the woman under a veil, with a baby in her arm, watching the team train talks volumes to me.

I hope to see all these women in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium one day soon.

Here are some photos:

Click to on the photo enlarge

Iranian women stand behind fencing as Iran's goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour, right, attends during a training session of Iran's national soccer team in Tehran on Sunday, May 21, 2006. In Iran women are not allowed to watch actual matches of the men's teams which are held in the coliseum. Iran will play in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, starting off in Group D along with Mexico, Angola and Portugal. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

Iranian girls share a laugh as they standing behind fencing during a trainning session of Iran's national soccer team in Tehran on Sunday, May 21, 2006. In Iran women are not allowed to watch actual matches of the men's teams which are held in the coliseum. Iran will play in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, starting off in Group D along with Mexico, Angola and Portugal.  (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

Iranian women walk as one of them holds Iran's national flag during a training session of Iran's national soccer team in Tehran Sunday, May 21, 2006. In Iran women are not allowed to watch actual matches of the men's teams which are held in the coliseum. Iran will play in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, starting off in Group D along with Mexico, Angola and Portugal. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)



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Comments
Username By Trent | May 21st, 2006 at 5:50 pm
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Great photos.

And it’s going to happen. Hopefully sooner rather than later!

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Username By kapcro | May 21st, 2006 at 6:24 pm
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Ok Afshin you had my heart go out to the girl in the cap with the team colors on in Offside, now the picture of the woman in the veil has totally shredded it. Next protest march I want to carry one of the signs.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Afshin Afshar | May 21st, 2006 at 6:40 pm
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Kapcro, I was not kidding about getting emotional. I have a sister who is also a football fanatic. She wrote this about her experience when she was a teenager in Tehran (scroll down to see comment #5):

http://www.lastkick.com/?p=875

Posted from United States United States

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Username By kapcro | May 21st, 2006 at 8:14 pm
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Hey I wasn’t kidding either. Its hard to see a person have a desire and love for the sport and be kept out. I was being totally serious about the exclusion these women must feel and standing beside them at least in spirit. I hope that it changes, the sooner the better.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By hozhabr | May 22nd, 2006 at 11:59 am
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hey kapcro don’t you be so faith full for our women.belive me you cant realy understand what’s going on in iran.i mean you should first feel our culture then we realy appreciate your opinions

Posted from Islamic Republic Of Iran Islamic Republic Of Iran

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Username By kia | May 22nd, 2006 at 12:08 pm
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hozhabr, could you elaborate on that? tell us what is really going on in Iran?

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Afshin Afshar | May 22nd, 2006 at 12:17 pm
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I second Kia’s question. It would be interesting to hear from someone who lives in Iran.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By kapcro | May 22nd, 2006 at 4:29 pm
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Hozhabr, I have been with Iranians during the 70’s for over ten years, both men and women. Have studied in college with good friends, worked with them, watched the revolution take place through their eyes both for and against. Even back then the Iranian women I knew were highly dissatisfied with their role in society. I strongly dislike discrimination of any kind, especially macho male domination of women. I believe women have the right to equality in any society and no justification can be put forth to abridge those rights. I do not see religious basis as a justification for that type of discrimination. Don’t like Islamic discrimination nor do I respect Catholic discrimination of women in my faith which also exists. If you can’t realize the poignancy of that picture that Afshin put up I can only hope you’ll take a hard look at your position and ask yourself if the women in your life should be subjected to that type of discrimination. I do not wish them to have to endure it. Please elaborate on what your position is with respect to women’s rights and something as simple as viewing a sporting event in public instead of being shunned and put in the role of second class citizens.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By saeed | June 16th, 2006 at 1:04 am
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zende bad iraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

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Username By fugrohex | March 25th, 2007 at 7:32 am
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I didn’t notice: //mail. This princess here is c8wd there. c8w9 I pulled out the room. She said. Miller kept saying.

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