British Woman in Iran Jailed for 1 Year for Watching Men's Volleyball Match

A British woman has been jailed for one year after attending a men's volleyball match in Iran.

Activist Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, was first arrested in June while trying to attend a match with a group of women. She was later released, but Ghavami has now been jailed once again after being found "guilty of spreading anti-regime propaganda," her lawyer told the BBC.

Women have been banned from watching men's volleyball in the country since 2012, an expansion of a law against watching football.

Amnesty International has called for Ghavami's immediate release, and the British Foreign Office has also released a statement saying, "We have concerns about the grounds for this prosecution, due process during the trial, and Miss Ghavami's treatment whilst in custody."

Eurosport reports that "Women are banned from Iranian football matches with Gen Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam, chief of the Iran police, having said that it is 'not yet in the public interest' for them to share the stands with men."

Eurosport also published quotes on the jailing from Amnesty International's director, Kate Allen: 

"

It's an outrage that a young woman is being locked up simply for peacefully having her say about how women are discriminated against in Iran.

The authorities should investigate allegations that Ghoncheh was subjected to death threats by her interrogators and provide compensation for her arbitrary detention and her prolonged solitary confinement.

"

A Facebook page entitled Free Ghoncheh Ghavami has been set up, and her brother, Iman Ghavami, has also established an online petition calling for her release.

[BBC, Eurosport]