The Iranian women's soccer team will play the 2015 Asian Cup without their captain, Niloufar Ardalan, according to ESPNW. It was reported that Ardalan's husband took her passport in a domestic quarrel.
Ardalan is the captain and best player for Iran's women's team and must miss the tournament because of the Iranian Law. The Law states that married women in Iran cannot leave the country if their husband forbids them from going.
The reason Ardalan's husband kept her home was to support their son on his first day of school. A valid reason in most cases, yet not when a chance to represent your country is on the line. Ardalan has taken to social media to let fans know her reasoning for "staying" home from the tournament and also called for a change to the Islamic Law.
"I am only a national soldier who fights to raise flag of our country," she wrote. "I wish a law would be approved that allows female soldiers to fight for raising the flag" stated Ardalan.
No one can fault her for wanting to represent your country by playing the game she loves. Questions can also be asked of the husband for his real reasoning behind keeping her home. However, Islamic Law is very important to the people of that region and must be followed.
Fans of Iran's team and Ardalan are fighting to get her to the tournament and media coverage of the event continues to grow. Even Fox News picked up the story. Proving that this is not just a story about a female soccer player, but about a Law that must be changed to help women in the Middle East follow their dreams.
