Contrast in Tehran as unveiled women race marathon alongside regime military display

Tehran saw two very different scenes unfold at the same time on Friday, as in one part of the city, many women raced a marathon without a headscarf, and in another part, a regime military display took place with thousands of women in hijab showing their loyalty with machine guns in their hands.

The state-organised rally brought together 300,000 supporters of the Islamic Republic. The "Jan-Fada" (Self-Sacrificers) marched from Imam Hossein Square toward central Tehran. Among these, the image of a woman in a full chador with a baby wrapped in a keffiyeh perched behind a machine gun stood out as particularly striking.

On the other hand, female runners joined a sporting event and competed in a track-and-field race. During the event, women whose clothing, according to published images, did not comply with Iran’s mandatory hijab rules were featured.

The Tehran 10-kilometre marathon was held at Velayat Park, with men and women competing in separate divisions.

According to the official schedule, the women’s race started at 5:30 AM, followed by the men’s at 7:00 AM. Published photos showed some female participants running without headscarves and wearing standard athletic gear, including long-sleeve tops and track pants.

This event proceeded despite the cancellation of the "Mahan Run" in the city of Kerman just days earlier, which had been scheduled for 5km, 10km, and 21km distances.

Kerman's seminary had demanded the cancellation, citing co-ed participation and concerns over "religious values", ultimately leading authorities to withhold a permit.

Similarly, in December 2025, images of unveiled women running in a Kish Island marathon sparked widespread backlash from conservative figures and led to legal actions against the organisers.

Meanwhile, the Tehran Prosecutor's Office has announced the opening of a judicial case against the organisers of the Tehran Marathon over what it described as a "failure to observe legal and religious standards," HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) reported.

Pro-regime rally

A short distance away, in a markedly different atmosphere, central Tehran hosted the "Jan-Fada-ye Iran" (Iran's Self-Sacrificers) drill. The event featured Basij forces, campaign volunteers, and several senior military and political figures, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. State media claimed an attendance of 313,000 people.

The procession moved from Imam Hossein Square toward the city centre, showcasing military hardware, drones, and organised Basij units.

"Jan-Fada-ye Iran" is a campaign launched following the outbreak of armed conflict. Islamic Republic officials initially claimed over 30 million enrollments, later updating the figure to around 32 million, and asserted that 32% of registrants are women and 68% are men.

Given Iran's population of roughly 90 million, 32 million would represent nearly 35% of the country's total population.

However, this statistic relies solely on the organiser's claims and cannot be independently verified.

What is the law, and where is the contradiction?

Under Iranian law, women are required to wear the hijab in public. However, four years after the start of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, an increasing number of women have openly refused to comply with the rule.

This trend has continued despite the two recent wars involving Iran against Israel and the US.

A similar change has also been evident at pro-government rallies in recent weeks and months. Images from several events have shown women attending without headscarves or wearing them in ways that do not fully comply with the official dress code.

At the same time, some voices within the Iranian establishment have argued that women who support the Islamic Republic should still be considered supporters of the system, even if they do not fully comply with the mandatory hijab rules.

What defined Tehran on Friday morning was the juxtaposition of these two realities: on one side, thousands of mobilised forces gathered for a state military display focused on "comprehensive defence"; on the other, men and women took part in an athletic event that presented a distinctly different picture of women's presence in Iranian public life.

These paradoxes play out against a heightened political and security backdrop inside Iran following the start of US and Israeli military strikes on February 28.

Even as state rallies and pro-regime demonstrations fill the streets, reports indicate an ongoing crackdown marked by detentions of protesters and state executions.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Islamic Republic executed at least 29 people between March 18 and the end of August who had been arrested in connection with the January protests.