As the World Cup kicks off in Qatar alongside the UN’s 16 Days of Activism to tackle gender-based violence, The Three Hijabis and the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) are urgently calling on football to tackle misogyny and gender-based violence in the sport.
The campaigners are again asking the men who run football: “Whose side are you on?” saying “football must not be used to sports-wash violence against women and girls, exploitation of migrant workers, homophobia, Islamophobia and all forms of racism.”
In August this year, the feminist groups, and activists, successfully campaigned to change Premier League Policy on implementing mandatory consent and gender-based violence training across all Premier League clubs and for all staff.
The Qatar World Cup is rightly being used as a backdrop to protest and resistance to the many ways in which women and girls are harmed within football. It is by shining a bright light on the ugly side of the beautiful game that we can harness the power of football fans to hold those with power in football accountable. Football must be a truly safe space for all women and girls.
The campaigners are also calling on FIFA (International Federation of Association Football),
The Football Association (FA), Wales and the England football teams to show solidarity and amplify the voices of Iranian women leading the countrywide protests against patriarchal control and the stifling of freedom of expression for all.
England will play Iran on November 21st in the group qualifying stage of the World Cup.
Nationwide protests started in Iran in September following the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while she was detained in police custody after she was arrested by Iran’s notorious morality police for “not wearing the correct hijab”.
Mahsa Amini has become a potent symbol of women’s resistance against misogyny and gendered violence in Iran. Since then, more women have lost their lives (25 women and 43 children according to human rights group HRANA) to gendered state violence, activists have been sexually harassed and arrested and journalists have been detained. In the latest terrifying development, the Iranian state has reportedly issued its first death sentence to a protestor. It is estimated over 10-14 thousand protesters are now languishing in prison for participating in nationwide demonstrations.
Commenting on this The Three Hijabis said:
“We salute the bravery of our sisters in Iran standing up for their right to live freely without patriarchal control and the weaponisation of religion to police their bodies and choices.”
“This World Cup cannot and must not ignore violence against women and girls and gender-based violence inside and outside of football.
Our England and Wales teams and players have a duty to use their profile and platform to amplify the voices of women in Iran and support the players and staff in the Iranian national team who hold these same values.The England team has demonstrated its commitment to standing up to racism and homophobia. The Qatar World Cup is another vital moment for football to commit itself to taking the necessary action to stand up to all forms of gender-based violence and violence against women and girls in football.”
End Violence Against Women Coalition Director Andrea Simon added:
“The world cup should be a time of celebration. But as our football campaign has shown the beautiful game has an ugly underside when it comes to violence against women. The lead up to the Qatar World Cup has laid bare how this ugly side is riddled with many intersecting systems of oppression and harm – providing an opportunity for us to come together and show solidarity in our shared fight for a society and game free from abuse. And with the upcoming England vs Iran game, we stand side by side with our sisters, The Three Hijabis, and their calls for solidarity with the women of Iran and their fight for freedom”.
Go Fund Me have selected The Three Hijabs as one of the organisation’s it will spotlight during the World Cup and are supporting the The Three Hijabis work on tackling violence against women and girls and gendered Islamophobia in football.
Further details and to donate to support us to support our work:
The Three Hijabis Go Fund Me Page
Notes to Editors:
To book an interview with The Three Hijabis contact: moc.liamg@sibajih3eht
Twitter: @THijabis
