CAIRO: As ski season approaches in Tehran, Iranian women will now have to be accompanied by a male as they carve down the slopes of Iran's numerous ski resorts, according to the Washington Post. A recent police circular stated that male family member must now accompany female skiers, be it her husband, father, or brother. Iranian ski resorts have become known of their laxity of Shariah law enforcement. Until now females have been able to mix with male friends and avoid wearing the mandatory head covering while skiing on Iran's powder-covered slopes. The requirement of a male supervisor while skiing is just the most recent of numerous discriminatory mandates against women on the books in a country known for gender-based discrimination. “Iranian law considers women to be second class citizens and promotes discrimination against them,” according to Change4equality.com, an Iranian women's rights organization. Iranian women do not have the right to divorce and are legally responsible for criminal action at the age of 9, six years earlier than their male counterparts. Additionally, unlike Iranian males, Iranian women are unable to pass down their nationality to their children if their husbands are not Iranian citizens. Iran is also home to a law permitting males to kill their wives without punishment if they are caught in bed with another man. Men who kill their wives in other scenarios can claim that they suspect their wives to be unfaithful will automatically be given a maximum sentence of only 10 years. In an effort to combat the inconspicuous discrimination against women, female activism is becoming increasing prevalent in Iran. BM
