The captain of the Iranian women’s soccer team will not be participating in the Asia Cup tournament because her husband has confiscated her passport. Niloufar Ardalan, the 30-year-old midfielder, got in a dispute with her husband about being home for their son’s first day of school. Her husband, Mahdi Toutounchi, refused to sign any papers that would grant her permission to leave the country. Her son’s first day was during the tournament, which created this conflict.

In Iran, it is mandatory for women who are married to have their passports signed off by their husbands if they are planning to leave the country. This story has caught major heat recently on social media worldwide, which has resulted in the trending of the hashtag #WeAreAllNiloufarArdalan. People around the world are expressing their frustration and anger with the Iranian government over the oppressive laws women have to deal with. The hashtag attempts to shed light on all the women in Iran who have to deal with these discriminatory laws on a daily basis.

Women in Iran have been fighting against these kind laws for decades. When the Islamic Revolution occurred in 1979, women’s rights took a hard toll. Women were forced to follow a strict dress code, were refused jobs, sent to special schools, and many public places had become sex-segregated. Over time, some of the strictest laws have been repealed or less enforced. However, there is no denying the fact that women in Iran still have to deal with sexism frequently and are viewed as the "weaker gender."

It’s a shame that some countries still live in the dark ages, where humans are not viewed equally because of gender. The story of Niloufar Aradalan reinforces the harsh reality that sexism is alive and well around the world.