Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani's Fatwa
about Women's Going to Public Sports Stadium

In the name of Allah, the Most Exalted

I have been asked questions several times telephonically or by mail or in person about women's going to sports stadium. The answer to this inquiry is that first, it is not permissible for a woman to look at a man's body even if she does not intend seeking pleasure. Secondly, one of the issues emphasized greatly by Islam is the necessity of segregation between women and men. As seen in the western societies and unfortunately in some of the internal institutions, much depravity is caused as a result of mixture of men and women. Women's going to public sports centers which involves getting mixed with men is not permissible at all. Even if special places are allocated for women, the evil of mixture is stilly likely. It is therefore necessary for the government of the Islamic Republic (of Iran) to provide women with special places for sports activities and to avoid discriminating between men and women in this regard. We urge respected government authorities in charge of the said affair to move in the direction of the revival of Islamic values and avoid actions that would create an obstacle to reaching this aim. We pray to Almighty Allah to grant them success in following the laws of Islam.

Muhammad Fazel Lankarani
25/4/2006