Miniskirts, headscarves do not mix at new Tehran park

zoom

Tehran has opened its first female-only park, called ‘Mothers’ Heaven’, where women can cast off their headscarves to enjoy the sun.

A woman clad in a red t-shirt plays an Iranian drum in a Tehran park as her teenage daughter dances nearby, her hair flowing in the air.

Anywhere else in Iran they would risk being stopped by the police and possibly arrested. Here, in the first female-only park in the Islamic country's capital, a dozen women in summer garb have gathered on the grass to watch and applaud.

"We're having great fun without men,'' Setareh Sabzevari, 40, said.

Mothers' Heaven opened in May as a place where women can cast off their Islamic headscarves and dress to enjoy the sun, jog and play without offending anyone.

Embraced by many visitors, the park has also sparked concern it may encourage segregation after a decade in which women gained more freedom to interact with men and participate in sports in public - albeit with their hair and bodies fully covered.

Such initiatives are "positive as long as women have the freedom to choose,'' said Rosa Gharachorloo, assistant professor in human and women's rights at Tehran's Azad University. "I just would not want this to turn into a law or to become the norm. What if it extends to public libraries or cinemas?''

The mayor's office rebuffs criticism by saying Mothers' Heaven, which has on average 1000 visitors a day, was created in response to requests from women. The city opened a second park in August and has plans for four others.

They are practical solutions that respect religious beliefs and are in line with the Islamic Republic's laws, said Mahmood Maniei, a spokesman and adviser to the mayor's office for Tehran's third district, where the park is located.

"Would you prefer doing sports in an Islamic coat or without?'' he said. "This is not about segregation. It's giving women equal opportunities in the city.''

Sociologist Nayereh Tavakoli said she was concerned that some activities women had already gained acceptance for could "again be viewed as abnormal.''

"This is giving opportunities, but it's not giving equal opportunities,'' she said. "Equal would mean that they would have similar access to any park in the city.''

Mothers' Heaven takes up 15-hectares (37 acres) of a park in northern Tehran whose tall trees and hilly terrain, supplemented by metal walls in some areas, keep the women hidden from view. A team of 15 guards patrol the gates to dissuade potential voyeurs.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

Park
Posted by Marijke, Bahrain on Sunday 23 November 2008 at 16:51 UAE time


I agree with Mrs. Garachorloo's worries it will result in segregation, however it must be a relief for women that they can exercise and play without men oogling at them. Beacause to be honest I don't believe covering will stop men from looking. In so many countries women and men can go to seperate gyms, I would be very happy to be able to exercise without eyes stinging in my back! What does annoy me a bit is that in the article it says that with wall around the park women will not be able to offend anyone by being uncovered. It shoudl say; Where women don't get offended by staring men!

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM