Iran’s female vice prez scolds hardliners over volley ball ban

One of Iran’s female vice presidents launched a furious attack on Saturday on “sanctimonious” groups whose threats of violent confrontation at a volleyball match ultimately prompted a clampdown on women spectators.

The remarks from Shahindokht Molaverdi, whose brief covers women and family affairs, could inflame a weeks-long row between the government and conservative opponents of its plans to ease restrictions at sporting events.

Volleyball is highly popular in Iran and Molaverdi last week said a limited number of women would, in contravention of a ban, be allowed to watch two eagerly anticipated matches against the United States in Tehran. But security officials later contradicted her.