<p>The head of Iran's athletics federation resigned Sunday over a sporting event featuring women without the mandatory headscarf, state media reported, as the Islamic republic toughens enforcement of hijab rules.</p>.<p>"Hashem Siami resigned from his post due to the controversies that arose from the endurance (running) race organised in Shiraz" in Iran's south, official news agency <em>IRNA </em>said.</p>.<p>According to images from Friday's competition published by Iranian media, some women were running without headscarves, made compulsory shortly after the Islamic revolution of 1979.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/3-imprisoned-iranian-female-journalists-win-top-un-prize-1215147.html" target="_blank">3 imprisoned Iranian female journalists win top UN prize</a></strong></p>.<p>Local organisers of the public event have also been summoned to provide "explanations", the provincial prosecutor said Sunday in a statement.</p>.<p>Siami told <em>IRNA </em>he was not involved in organising the competition, and the unveiled athletes were not part of the national federation.</p>.<p>A new police programme came into force last month aiming for stricter enforcement of hijab-wearing in public.</p>.<p>The number of women in Iran defying the dress code has increased since a wave of protests following the September 16 death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini, 22, for allegedly breaching it.</p>.<p>Authorities in Tehran last week launched proceedings against at least four actors who had appeared in public without a headscarf, local media said.</p>.<p>More than 150 commercial establishments nationwide were closed after employees had allegedly violated the dress code, authorities said in mid-April.</p>.<p>Police in Shiraz arrested in June girls who removed their veils at a skateboarding event, as well as the organisers.</p>
<p>The head of Iran's athletics federation resigned Sunday over a sporting event featuring women without the mandatory headscarf, state media reported, as the Islamic republic toughens enforcement of hijab rules.</p>.<p>"Hashem Siami resigned from his post due to the controversies that arose from the endurance (running) race organised in Shiraz" in Iran's south, official news agency <em>IRNA </em>said.</p>.<p>According to images from Friday's competition published by Iranian media, some women were running without headscarves, made compulsory shortly after the Islamic revolution of 1979.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/3-imprisoned-iranian-female-journalists-win-top-un-prize-1215147.html" target="_blank">3 imprisoned Iranian female journalists win top UN prize</a></strong></p>.<p>Local organisers of the public event have also been summoned to provide "explanations", the provincial prosecutor said Sunday in a statement.</p>.<p>Siami told <em>IRNA </em>he was not involved in organising the competition, and the unveiled athletes were not part of the national federation.</p>.<p>A new police programme came into force last month aiming for stricter enforcement of hijab-wearing in public.</p>.<p>The number of women in Iran defying the dress code has increased since a wave of protests following the September 16 death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini, 22, for allegedly breaching it.</p>.<p>Authorities in Tehran last week launched proceedings against at least four actors who had appeared in public without a headscarf, local media said.</p>.<p>More than 150 commercial establishments nationwide were closed after employees had allegedly violated the dress code, authorities said in mid-April.</p>.<p>Police in Shiraz arrested in June girls who removed their veils at a skateboarding event, as well as the organisers.</p>