[custom_adv] Darya Safai (born 7 April 1975) is an human rights activist. In 2014 she founded the group ‘Let Women Enter Their Stadiums’ to strive for the right of women to attend sport games in stadiums. She uses the stadium ban as a symbol of one of the many discriminations Iranian women are confronted with on a daily basis. [custom_adv] In February 2015, Darya Safai wrote a letter to Sepp Blatter, at that time President of FIFA, about the situation of the Iranian women and what they expected from FIFA does not comply its statutes regarding the Islamic Republic : Article 3 of FIFA’s statutes: [custom_adv] “Discrimination of any kind against a Country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion. [custom_adv] ” This letter has been supported and signed by more than 200 prominent Iranian academics, human-, civil- and political activists, political prisoners and artists. [custom_adv] At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro she showed her banner during the volleyball games of the men's volleyball team. [custom_adv] This action caused a lot of controversy. Olympic officials and security personnel threatened to eject her for holding the banner in front of the cameras. But she didn't go and displayed the sign during different games. This story was covered by media worldwide. [custom_adv] On June 2 2017, Darya Safai and a fellow activist showed the 'Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums' banner during the ItalyFIVB Volleyball World League match in Pesaro, Italy. [custom_adv] Italian police officers allegedly prevented them from performing the demonstration, removed Darya Safai by force from the stadium bleachers, and cut the banner into pieces, while being filmed by at least one bystander. [custom_adv] On June 4 2017 Italian journalist Michele Serra, on his daily column hosted by La Repubblica's front page, urged Italian authorities to issue an official apology in favor of Datya Safai. [custom_adv] As of June 5 2017, no official statement has been made by Italian authorities.