Ahmadinejad: Women allowed to attend sports events

Tehran: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced on Monday that a ruling which prevented women from watching men playing sports in stadiums would soon be reversed.

Iranian state television announced that Ahmadinejad had "ordered the head of the sports organisation to provide facilities in the stadiums to watch national matches."

"The best stands should be allocated to women and families in the stadiums in which national and important matches are being held," said Ahmadinejad.

"The presence of women and families in public places promotes chastity," he said.

Previously in Iran, women have been banned from attending matches such as national and international football matches.

On Sunday, Ahmadinejad said that the country’s strict Islamic dress code which dictates women cover their heads and entire bodies should not be imposed by force. Police as a result said that they would take a softer approach to the issue.