Detention of Iranian woman unrelated to sports

Iran’s Judiciary has rejected foreign media reports that an Iranian woman has been detained in the country for attending a men’s volleyball game at a stadium.

Western media had earlier reported that 25-year-old Ghoncheh Ghavami, who holds dual Iranian and British nationality, was arrested while attempting to enter a stadium in the Iranian capital of Tehran to watch a men’s volleyball match.

Speaking during a weekly press conference on Monday, Iranian Judiciary Spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i dismissed that Ghavami has been detained for trying to watch the game.

“Although this individual has been arrested at a spot where sports were being played, her case is not related to the issue of sports,” the Iranian Judiciary spokesman told reporters.

“She is currently in custody and the case is proceeding,” Mohseni-Eje’i added.

The comments by the senior Iranian Judiciary official come as certain media reports have attempted to portray the detention of Ghavami as being related to her attempt to watch a men’s game at the stadium. Women in Iran are not allowed to watch men’s sports games at stadiums.

The UK Foreign Office has said it plans to “follow up on the case” with Iranian officials at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.