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The National
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
It isn't just government policy that oppresses women in Iran, as recent assaults show
Iranians have lately been engulfed in debates around misogyny, gender roles and violence against women. A few disconnected events have helped push these issues to the top. The body of Elahe Hosseinnejad, 24, was found in a deserted area outside Tehran earlier this month. A nail stylist at a beauty salon, she had been missing for 11 days after getting into a taxi home. The taxi driver was later arrested, having confessed to killing her with a knife. Just days earlier, a coach and two athletes representing Iran at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea were arrested on allegations of sexual assault. A young South Korean woman has accused them of assaulting her in their hotel room after they met in a nearby bar. Iran's athletics federation has confirmed 'inappropriate behaviour' by the three men. The case is ongoing and the accused might face life sentences if convicted. The two events are unrelated but they both involve violence against women and have tested social attitudes. The feminist community has used them to raise awareness while, inevitably, they have become central to broader political controversies. Following the athletes' arrests, many in the sports community called for Ehsan Haddadi, who heads Iran's athletics federation, to resign. A demonstration was held against him in front of Iran's sports ministry last week. They brought up the former discus thrower's own dubious past, including his 2006 conviction and subsequent jail time for harassing a woman. Haddadi has another open sexual harassment case against him, and critics say his appointment shows a culture of impunity in Iran and the government's lack of attention to women's concerns. The government has also drawn criticism over murder case, particular over its inability to provide adequate safety and security to its citizens. They point to a lack of proper public transportation and a sharp increase in crime in recent years. Opponents of the government are debating among themselves, too. Iran has one of the highest number of executions in the world, and critics have advocated for the abolition of the death penalty – a position some of the more conservative opponents disagree with. Another debate pits criticism of the government's competency, or lack thereof, against broader sociopolitical critiques. Some argue that eradicating violence against women requires systemic changes that go beyond politics and that that's where the focus should be. Shocking reactions of some Iranian celebrities to the assault case lends credence to this argument. The US-based influencer Aisan Eslami, with more than 14 million followers on Instagram, has in particular incensed many. In one video, he mockingly said the events in South Korea were of great national pride for Iranians and that the three men had 'held the flag high'. In a later clip, he called the three accused men 'our brothers' and criticised those who were 'getting all honourable' on behalf of the victim (a reference to whom carried racial undertones). This is hardly surprising from Eslami, who is something of an Iranian version of Andrew Tate, the right-wing American influencer. Previously, Eslami verbally attacked female Iranian influencers based in Dubai, openly calling for their male relatives to murder them for what he saw as inappropriate online behaviour on their part. But Eslami isn't the only figure to downplay the assault case. Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, a former national football team coach, said what the Iranian athletes did was 'indubitably ugly' but also accused Haddadi's opponents of seeking 'personal revenge' against him. More troublingly, he added: 'In South Korea, such issues are not viewed so negatively. We have to see why they made a big deal out of this one.' Eradicating violence against women requires systemic changes that go beyond politics Javad Kazemian, a former footballer, said: 'Such things are natural and they happen everywhere in the world … they are making too much out of this. Let's be men and human and think what we would have done had this happened to ourselves?' It's worth pointing out that Eslami, Mayeli Kohan and Kazemian have all faced backlash for their comments. Just as heartening are the reactions of other Iranians. For example, Ehsan Mohajer Shojaei, who competed in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, said the 'catastrophe' in South Korea made him ashamed to be an Iranian athlete. He also called for Haddadi to resign. Another issue that has fuelled gender-based debates, albeit on a much lighter register, relates to a pioneering reality TV show that has captured millions of views since its debut last month. Eternal Love is modelled after the Love Island franchise that began in the UK in 2005 and has since expanded to other countries. The Iranian version is set in Bodrum, Turkey and is produced by a Turkish company that also brought out versions based in Turkey and some Arab countries. Hosted by the Iranian actress Parastoo Salehi, the show is broadcast on YouTube to overcome Iran's strict censorship rules. Its first episode was viewed more than 7.5 million times, and the show has 1.5 million followers on Instagram. Like its western counterparts, it features frank discussions and depictions of sexuality and romance. Such portrayals are not particularly new to Iranian audiences who are used to open programming broadcast to the country by Persian-language outlets based abroad. But the show is still the first of its kind, which explains its large viewing numbers. But Eternal Love has also provoked debates on attitudes towards gender. In an episode aired this week, a male participant was seen pushing a female contestant, leading to an avalanche of public discussions on domestic violence. All three instances, troubling as they are in varying degrees – and the widespread reactions to them – have shed much-needed light on gender-based issues in Iran. They are also a reminder that these issues are not always directly linked to repressive government policies. They can surface anywhere.
Free Malaysia Today
03-06-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Shahidan in 4-cornered race to lead Malaysian Athletics Federation
Arau MP Shahidan Kassim (centre) was first elected Malaysian Athletics Federation president in 2022. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The race for the post of Malaysian Athletics Federation president is expected to be a hotly contested battle between the current and former presidents, with two others also joining the fray. Incumbent Shahidan Kassim is expected to face a four-cornered fight in the June 15 election for the 2025-2029 term. Past president and Perak Amateur Athletics Association president Karim Ibrahim is contesting for the post again, as well as incumbent Malaysian Athletics Federation deputy president Mark William Ling and Terengganu Amateur Athletics Association president Wan Hisham Wan Salleh. Karim and Wan Hisham are also in the running for the post of Malaysian Athletics Federation deputy president, while R Annamalai, Sallehuddin Safar and Mohamat Hasan have also thrown their hats into the ring. An intense battle is on the cards for the four posts of vice-president, which includes one reserved for a woman representative, with nine candidates in contention. Those aspiring for posts in the Malaysian Athletics Federation can be nominated and registered as a candidate for more than one post. However, on the day of the election, they must choose only one post to vie for. The Malaysian Athletics Federation has 13 affiliates, comprising delegations from 13 associations. Each association will be represented by three delegates during polling.
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Arshad Nadeem qualifies for Asian Athletics final with 86.34m javelin throw
Arshad Nadeem has achieved extraordinary feats in javelin throw at both national and international level. PHOTO: AFP Listen to article Pakistan's Olympic hero Arshad Nadeem has once again proven his dominance in the field by securing a spot in the final of the men's javelin throw at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships with a stunning 86.34-metre throw on his very first attempt according to private news channel sources. Competing in Group A during the qualification round, Nadeem's powerful throw immediately placed him at the top of the leaderboard and confirmed his qualification for the final, scheduled for May 31 at 1.10pm Pakistan Standard Time (PKT). This marks his first major international appearance since his record-breaking 92.97m gold medal throw at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Read: India blocks Olympian Arshad Nadeem's Instagram Joining him in the final is fellow Pakistani javelin thrower Yasir Sultan, who qualified from Group B with a respectable 76.7m effort. The duo is part of a compact five-member Pakistani athletics squad currently competing in Gumi, South Korea. Nadeem, who was recently honoured with the Best Asian Athlete Award by the Asian Athletics Association, is aiming to add another gold medal to his growing collection, which includes titles from the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and other regional competitions. Video: Arshad Nadeem's monstrous throw of 86.34m in his very first attempt today. He reaches the final of Asian Athletics Championships 2025. Alhamdullilah 🇵🇰❤️❤️ This is his first throw since winning the Olympic Gold in Paris with a record-breaking 92.97m attempt 🥇⭐ — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 30, 2025 This throw reinforces his status as one of Asia's premier track and field athletes and a strong medal contender. Pakistan's Athletics Federation expressed confidence in the squad, emphasising their ambition not only to compete but to win. Read More: Arshad eyes 100m barrier at Asian C'ship "This is the first major event after the Olympics, and I've been working hard for the past five months," Nadeem had said earlier. "I do not compete with anyone else — my competition is with Arshad Nadeem himself." Previously, Nadeem was named the Best Asian Athlete by Asian Athletics, which recognized his remarkable achievements on the continental stage. The 2025 Asian Athletics Championships feature over 2,000 athletes from 43 countries. With Pakistan's most decorated athlete in peak form, national hopes are high for another podium finish. Nadeem will head to England after this championship to begin preparations for the World Athletics Championships in September.
