British woman held in Iran for watching men play volleyball

Ghoncheh Ghavami had returned to Iran inspired by the promise of reform
Ghoncheh Ghavami had returned to Iran inspired by the promise of reform

A British woman has spent almost three months in an Iranian prison after attempting to watch a men’s volleyball match, defying a ban on female spectators at male sports events.

Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, has spent more than 40 days of her custody in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin Prison, where many of the regime’s political opponents are held, prompting outrage from human rights groups.

Ms Ghavami was arrested in June during a peaceful protest as she and several other women tried to enter a stadium in Tehran to watch the Iranian national team play Italy. They were later released but when Ms Ghavami returned to the jail a few days later to collect some personal items, she was arrested again and transferred to Evin.

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