Via Women Living Under Muslim Laws

It looked for a moment as though we had come all the way to Tehran
for nothing.

The Islamic Women’s Games are conducted under strict Muslim rules

A tiny
lady in a long black cloak resolutely blocked our path as we tried to get
into the arena for the first match of the Islamic Women’s Games indoor
football event: Britain versus Iraq.

Chattering into a James Bond mike clipped onto her headscarf, she
demanded to know if we had cameras. No – we opened our bags, emptied our
pockets.

On seeing that we had no intention of breaking the strict
no-photography rule, a welcoming smile transformed the face of the
unlikely security guard, and she ushered us through.

No men are allowed inside the sports arenas at this event, which means
that Muslim women can take off their Islamic covering – the hijab – and
compete in shorts and t-shirt.

The ban on women appearing in public without their hijab is so strict
in Iran that photos are not allowed in case a man sees them.

Vindication

Inside, it was easy to forget that we were in an Islamic Republic.
Women rushed about busily in smart suits or training kit – headscarves and
overcoats cast aside.

The British and Iraqi teams were already warming up on the pitch.

In the press corner we were joined by only one other journalist – an
extremely elegant Iranian lady with oval-shaped glasses, reporting for a
women’s magazine.

Without evincing an unseemly enthusiasm for the subject, she asked me
for the low-down on the British team.

Iran flattened everyone in their path at this event and were left unsatisfied

I told her what I knew – that the British, unlike the competition’s
other teams, were not the national team.

They practised only once a week in a sports centre in Watford with a
sign stuck over the door stating “Women Only”.

But there was no question they were hungry for victory. A medal, they
felt, would vindicate their efforts to provide opportunities in sport for
Muslim women in Britain.

The journalist nodded vaguely before disappearing behind a book
entitled Secrets of Life Every Woman Should Know.

Frayed tempers

Play kicked off after a prayer. It was clear from the first minute –
when Iraq scored – that Britain were outclassed.

The impressive individual skills which I knew our girls possessed
seemed to evaporate under pressure.

As the goal deficit mounted, the British captain succumbed to an ankle
injury, tempers frayed and the centre forward was sent off.

The British women’s team were beaten heavily by Iraq

In search of
light relief, we migrated to the balcony, where we noticed the Iranian
team had arrived in preparation for their match.

We struck up a conversation with one of the players – let’s call her
Shirin – who lost no time in informing us that she dreamed of playing for
Liverpool.

The microphone was immediately snatched by her team-mate who screamed
“Arsenal!”, followed by another shouting “Chelsea!”, and another
“Manchester United!”

The Iranian squad were a real national team. Supported by the
government, they trained intensively to the point of obsession.

Their coach is Brazilian – their skills, fitness and team play
absolutely breathtaking. Other teams in the tournament struggled to give
them a match at all.

“Why are the British team so weak?” asked Shirin, kindly but
uncomprehending. “Arsenal, Manchester United – don’t they have women’s
teams?”

One thing is for sure: It’s difficult to imagine the cream of non-Muslim sport competing here

I tried to explain that the girls representing Britain were there
because they were Muslim – that this tournament was special to them, as it
was the only one where conditions allowed them to remove their hijab in
order to play.

Shirin shrugged. She doesn’t wear hijab by choice like the British
girls do. “I’m ready to play anyone from any religion,” she said. “I’d
like to have good competition.”

This difference in attitude is a subject which the organisers of the
Islamic Countries’ Women’s Games have to face.

Real competition

Iran flattened everyone in their path at this event and were left
unsatisfied.

They clearly need to compete at a higher level but are prevented by the
national policy and perhaps in some cases personal beliefs, requiring
Islamic conditions.

Britain struggled right from the beginning but at least had the
opportunity to taste the experience of real competition – something they
had not managed to arrange at home.

The organisers would love the competition to become an Islamic
alternative to the Olympic Games – national teams from all over the world
gathering to compete under these special conditions.

But if non-Muslim teams start taking part, how will the football-mad
Muslim girls from countries where they are in a minority – like Britain –
ever develop their sporting talents? And what about those Iranian
sportswomen who simply don’t care about the hijab?

One thing is for sure: It’s difficult to imagine the cream of
non-Muslim sport competing here.

No male supporters, trainers or physios and, above all, no photography
to please the sponsors and generate public interest.

Life is certainly not made easy for reporters, who stayed away in
droves from this event.

We returned to the lonely press corner just in time to say goodbye to
our Iranian colleague.

She was delicately arranging her airy, ice-pink headscarf, and getting
her papers together to file her report.

With no photos, of course.