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The discriminatory ban has already seen at least five women apprehended just for riding bicycles in public. But, the backlash against the extreme ban has seen hundreds of both men and women come out onto the streets with their bicycles to protest the decision. Marivan, a town in western Iran, took the bizarre measure amid growing use of bicycles throughout the country. Local authorities forced police to arrest any woman caught on a bicycle because they believe it "goes against Islam".

Iranian officials have encouraged people to cycle as part of a nationwide anti-pollution environmental campaign. The initiative has seen thousands of citizens cycle at least once a week. But, Islamic faith leaders in the town of Marivan have cracked down on the trend and pressured the authorities to ban women from public cycling. Since the end of July, police have arrested several women caught on bicycles

GETTY Hundreds of people marched their bikes through the streets of Marivan

According to the local iman, women should not cycle because it goes counter to the teachings of Islam Marivan police

But, hundreds of people in the town have rebelled against the ban. Protesters have held a series of marches against the decision for the past two weeks. Video footage of the protests shows police officers desperately trying to disperse the demonstrators. A woman is heard replying that if she can cycle in the rest of Iran, there is no reason that she shouldn’t be allowed to cycle in Marivan.

TWITTER On July 26, the police ordered women to stop cycling

Local authorities have said: "According to the local iman, women should not cycle because it goes counter to the teachings of Islam.” The women in the city had been made to sign a pledge against cycling in public. Human rights activist Farideh Karimi, said: "Suppression of women has been a tenet of the mullahs' regime from its outset. "This latest restrictive measure shows that misogyny is being stepped up under Hassan Rouhani's administration." The news comes just a week after 150 people were arrested for attending a mixed-sex party near Tehran. Colonel Mohsen Khancherli, police commander for the Tehran Province said: "Some 150 boys and girls had gathered at the mixed-gender party under the guise of a birthday party in this garden which is situated next to a studio where unlawful music was produced and recorded. "Upon arrival of the police, all those present were arrested and sent before the judiciary."

TWITTER Hundreds of people marched their bikes through the streets of Marivan