Iran's women football fans dream of a return to the terraces Women football fans in Iran are hoping to use the next major international championship in Tehran to return to the terraces. Women have not been allowed to watch men's football games since 2006They say the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship this September and October will give them an opportunity to end a long-standing ban that prevents women attending football matches because they are played by men wearing shorts. Until now, conservatives and traditionalists have prevented women from attending matches, and as things stand they are most likely to oppose any change to the status quo. Indeed, t...More

Iran's women football fans dream of a return to the terraces Women football fans in Iran are hoping to use the next major international championship in Tehran to return to the terraces. Women have not been allowed to watch men's football games since 2006They say the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship this September and October will give them an opportunity to end a long-standing ban that prevents women attending football matches because they are played by men wearing shorts. Until now, conservatives and traditionalists have prevented women from attending matches, and as things stand they are most likely to oppose any change to the status quo. Indeed, t...More

Egypt’s liberals call for sexual harassment law The Free Egyptians Party took part in a protest organized by women’s rights organizations in central Cairo against the sexual harassment phenomenonEgypt’s liberal Free Egyptians Party (FEP) declared its support for the calls by women’s rights organizations and NGOs , which called for anti-harassment laws, an Egyptian online news website reported on Monday.The party said it stands against “the phenomenon of sexual harassment” and called for the passing of a law criminalizing the act, Egypt’s Bikyamasr news website reported. According to the report, the party condemned in a statement ...More

Women have joined the military for the first time in Saudi Arabia Saudi women check travelers' papers at passport control at a border crossing.Thirty women were recruited as privates at the Passport Department’s offices at border crossings like King Fahd Causeway and Salwa border point in the east of the Kingdom.A recent study of Naif University for Security Sciences’ Studies and Research Center showed that Saudi women have been embarking on security work as volunteers. The study "Women Police in Arab Countries" indicated a real potential for an effective women police force in Saudi Arabia. If that were to be implemented, the study said, all segments of so...More

Women’s rights threatened in Morocco as Salafists assault, strip woman Women in Morocco worried over spate of assaults.Women’s rights in Morocco have come under the spotlight recently after a young woman was assaulted in a Rabat market by people she called “Salafists,” or ultra-conservative Islamists. She said she was accosted by the men because of the short dress she was wearing.Other witnesses were reported by the Magharebia news portal as saying the girl was attacked with stones and beaten after the assailants said the dress was “too revealing.”Human rights and women’s organizations issued statements denouncing the assault on the Moroccan girl, duri...More

Palestinian policewomen break traditional stereotypes Palestinian women stand in line behind their male counterpartsIt is rare to see women police officers on the streets in any part of the Arab world.But in the Palestinian territories where civil police are themselves, a relatively new concept, concerted efforts are under way to bring more women into the force.In Hebron, the West Bank's biggest city, there are now about 50 women among the 900 police officers deployed locally.Their presence challenges stereotypes but it is traditional values that make it necessary."The idea came about because Hebron is a conservative city and people didn't accept policemen ...More