She wanted to watch soccer. Now Iran’s ‘Blue Girl’ is dead after setting herself on fire
- Sahar Khodayari, 29, was caught dressing as a man to sneak into stadium, for which she could have been jailed for six months
An Iranian woman awaiting trial for trying to enter a soccer match set herself on fire and died, setting off an outpouring of grief and criticism of the Islamic Republic’s restrictive policies toward women.
The death of 29-year-old Sahar Khodayari has shocked Iranian officials and the public, becoming an immediate hashtag trend across social media in the Islamic Republic.
It also comes as Fifa is working with Iranian authorities to overcome a ban on women entering stadiums for men’s games, a ban in place since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Fifa wants the issue resolved before October 10 when Iran – the top-ranked team in Asia – hosts its first home World Cup qualifier against Cambodia.
Her only ‘crime’ was being a woman in a country where women face discrimination
Fifa said on Tuesday it was “aware of that tragedy” and deeply regrets it.