Iranian Women's Soccer Captain Will Miss Asian Cup After Husband Takes Passport

[brooklynite]

Iranian Women's Soccer Captain Will Miss Asian Cup After Husband Takes Passport

In late-breaking "abridgment of basic human rights" news, Iranian women's soccer captain Niloufar Ardalan will not be present at the Asian Cup, as her husband has decided to invoke his legal, husbandly right to withhold her passport.

Per the Associated Press' Jon Gambrell, Ardalan's husband, sports journalist Mahdi Toutounchi, has taken the 30-year-old midfielder's passport to ensure she will be home for their son's first day of school, according to reports from Iranian news website Fararu.com.

Seems legit.

And the great (read: terrible) thing is that there is no real legal recourse for Ardalan. Toutounchi didn't just put her documents on a high shelf out of reach. He's acting within the given legal parameters of Iranian law, which posits that a man can deny his wife the ability to travel beyond the country's borders if he chooses.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2567741-iranian-womens-soccer-captain-will-miss-asian-cup-after-husband-takes-passport?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

[shenmue]

1. ...

[Godhumor]

2. Hope she kicks him in the soccer balls n/t

[GummyBearz]

3. Now now

It's their culture, lets not impose our values on it, right?

[romanic]

8. Islamphobe!!11112!

[riderinthestorm]

4. I'd say she should divorce him but it's almost impossible

Although Iranian religious law frowns on divorce, a man is allowed to claim the privilege without needing to show cause, provided he pays his ex-wife compensation. A woman, however, can only sue for divorce if she can prove that her husband is sterile or mad, or if he agrees to let her out of their marriage contract. In the last case, the compensation becomes the bargaining chip: the man will sometimes give his wife her freedom if he doesn't have to pay.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/divorce-iranian-style/



Can you imagine being forced to stay in that marriage after this?!

[flamingdem]

5. Well that should help their relationship

.. not!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. I think it's pretty well established that

she is not an equal partner in the relationship. Her thoughts and feelings are immaterial and he will proceed with his life without further concern for hers and all "marital benefits" are his for the taking without interruption or dispute.

[smirkymonkey]

6. This culture is disgusting and primitive.

[davidpdx]

9. I would think he'd be in trouble with the government if the team is embarrassed

There would be a bit of irony in that wouldn't there.

[Johnyawl]

10. Do you think THAT government cares about women's soccer?

Hell, they're probably embarrassed that they have a woman's soccer team.

[davidpdx]

11. For national pride, yes

[Quantess]

12. He's afraid she won't want to come back

after she sees what life is like outside of Iran.