Four years after widespread protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Guidance Patrol (Gashte Ershad), Tehran witnessed an unprecedented event. A marathon race was held with the presence of hundreds of women and men, while most of the women taking part challenged mandatory hijab. And all of this happened on the very day when the government had called its supporters to take to the streets in another part of the city for a military exercise called “Jān-fadāyān-e Irān” (Soul Devoted to Iran).

Now the issue has become controversial. The judiciary has announced charges against the agents and organizers of this competition. The Tehran seminary (Howzeh Ilmiyyeh) has called for judicial and deterrent action against those involved in holding the marathon.

The government’s Ministry of Interior spokesperson, meanwhile, described the coincidence of the two events as a mistake, and the general director of sports and youth of Tehran Province also said that a damage-assessment meeting regarding the two marathons in Velayat Park is being held with officials.

What does the government do regarding social freedoms? Has the notion of toleration in its governance been wrong?

Let’s see a report by Farin Assemi: