Laleh Seddigh ( fa, لاله صدیق; born 1977 in
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
) is an Iranian racing driver. She has been described as 'one of the most celebrated sportswomen in Iran'.
Biography
Early life
Seddigh started driving at the age of 13, taught by her father. She passed her driving test at 18.
[''Girl Racer'', BBC, 2008.]
Career
Seddigh had to get special permission from a local
ayatollah
Ayatollah ( ; fa, آیتالله, āyatollāh) is an Title of honor, honorific title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy in Iran and Iraq that came into widespread usage in the 20th century.
Etymology
The title is originally derived from ...
in order to compete against men. Permission was given since driving is not deemed a contact sport, and on the condition that Seddigh would confirm to dress-codes.
[
Seddigh has said that she will not leave Iran as she is 'most effective' in promoting women's rights in Japan. Seddigh has trained other female racing drivers.
]
Media
Seddigh's story is featured in a BBC TV documentary called ''Girl Racer'', transmitted in 2008.
See also
* List of famous Iranian women
* Iranian women's movement
The Iranian Women's Rights Movement (Persian: جنبش زنان ایران), is the social movement for women's rights of the women in Iran. The movement first emerged after the Iranian Constitutional Revolution in 1910, the year in which the f ...
References
External links
*
Iranian racing drivers
Female racing drivers
1977 births
Living people
Iranian sportswomen
Sportspeople from Tehran
{{Iran-sport-bio-stub