Women running marathon without veils in Iran compared to ‘nudity’ by officials

December 9, 2025

Thousands of women ran a marathon on Kish Island, in Iran – without a hijab – in what many saw as a sign of the social and cultural shift in the country.

Footage showed the runners dressed in red T-shirts and letting their hair free at the start of the competition on Friday before they later posed with their medals.

It has since emerged that Iranian authorities arrested two organisers for allowing unveiled women to compete in the race, which was attended by more than 25,000 tourists. METRO