Women can watch soccer in Iran

For the first time since 1979, Iranian women can attend soccer matches in big stadiums, but they will sit in a separate family section. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during his announcement that, ""the presence of women and families in public places promotes chastity."

The ban was originally put into place due to the vulgar language that men often use at soccer matches.

Last month security forces attacked dozens of female soccer fans who had bought tickets for a match at the Azadi stadium in Tehran.

They briefly unfurled protest banners and staged a demonstration outside before being forced into a bus and driven away. A few days later about 250 female spectators at a gymnastics world cup event in Tehran were escorted from an indoor stadium.

Let's hope this leads to further equal treatment for women within Iran.