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“In this captivating memoir, Iranian civil rights activist Shojaei shares how women have struggled against the Iranian government and FIFA in their attempts to watch soccer games in person since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, or Islamic Revolution…Shojei is particularly effective when discussing how the establishment of Islamic law affects women citizens and the concurrent idea that gender alone defines individuals.”

—School Library Journal

“Despite its name, which means freedom in Farsi, women were barred from entering Tehran’s Azadi Stadium until 2019, something activist and soccer fan Shojaei was determined to change…Standing on the shoulders of other brave Iranian women, Shojaei used her position as a naturalized Canadian citizen and the support of her brother Masoud, captain of the Iranian National Soccer Team, to challenge FIFA to uphold its own gender nondiscrimination rules…A riveting account showing that change can begin with a dream.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Azadi Means Freedom: Fighting for Gender Equity Through the World’s Most Popular Game

Written by Maryam Shojaei
Published by Triangle Square

Maryam Shojaei’s brother, Masoud, was captain of Iran’s national team and player in three World Cup tournaments. But Maryam and her mother and sister never saw him play in Tehran’s famous Azadi Stadium. For forty years no woman–not one of the over 40 million women and girls in that country–has been allowed in any stadium, except for those brave enough to sneak in disguised as men and run the risk of being arrested and imprisoned.

“Azadi” means freedom in Iran’s Persian language.

Here is Maryam’s story of taking on her own government and a global sports organization to fight for girls’ and women’s rights. Azadi Means Freedom is both a fascinating look into life in modern Iran for young women today, and also a personal story filled with intrigue and danger. Maryam travels the globe to battle the stadium ban, is detained and beaten, but her story is also covered in international news. With the support of activist friends and her beloved family–and the stories of other protesters like the Blue Girl and the White Scarves movement–she reaches the powerful halls of FIFA and the United Nations to plead the case for Iran’s women.

Primary ISBN: 9781644214893
Publication Date: April 2026
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Young Adult, Nonfiction, Age 14 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Iran (Tehran), Canada, United States

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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