Shahrzadnews: The Iranian police have issued a directive banning women from skiing on their own. According to this new restrictive measure, girls under 18 will not be allowed onto the ski slopes unless they are with a parent, and those over 18 must be married and accompanied by their husbands.

When asked by an Iranian journalist to show the police directive to him, the manager of a popular north Tehran ski slope refused, saying the order had come from top police commanders and that he had to obey it.

For many Iranians, skiing is very popular winter sport, with heavy snowfall common in regions surrounding the major cities of the north. Now it has become yet another social problem however, as conservative factions in the government increase their grip on political power.