LAHORE, Pakistan, May 14 — More than two dozen people were detained Saturday after taking part in a foot race that included women, defying a ban imposed after Islamic hard-liners had attacked participants in a similar event.
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Authorities banned women from competing in foot races after hard-liners, who regard women’s participation in sports as against Islam, attacked runners at a similar event in Punjab province last month.
A Reuters photographer said police also beat and arrested protesters from Islamist parties who had planned to attack participants in the race.
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Among those arrested was group of female rights activists who attempted to lead a rally demanding for women the right to run in marathons alongside men.Pakistan’s internationally known human rights activist Asma Jehangir was also arrested, witnesses said.
“The police surrounded Asma’s office and detained her as she came out of the office along with other participants,†witness Abdullah Iqbal said.
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Pakistani authorities had banned women from taking part in marathons last month after violent protests by hard-line Islamic parties. A marathon in Gujranwala, 85 miles south of Islamabad, in early April was attacked by a mob of Islamic extremists wielding batons and guns. Cross-fire between the police and the Islamists left 80 people injured.
The organizers of the run on Saturday said they wanted to highlight violence against women and protest against the increasing influence of Islamic extremist political parties.