Ghoncheh Ghavami was given a year's jail sentence for "propagating against the ruling system" after she attended an International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World League match against Italy in Tehran last June.

She was released from Tehran's notorious Evin Prison on bail in November until her court appeal, following a series of hunger strikes and a petition signed by hundreds of thousands of people.

However, the Tehran prosecutor's office has now agreed to close the case on possible charges of "propaganda activities against the regime" and "contacts with opposition forces".

The two-year ban preventing her from leaving Iran, which was imposed in November last year, is set to remain in place and she will pay a fine of 10 million tomans (£2,000/$2,985/€2,700).

An international "Free Ghoncheh Ghavami" campaign was launched following her arrest ©Facebook


Human rights campaigners are insisting Ghavami should be granted compensation for her suffering.

Women in Iran have been banned from attending football matches for quarter-of-a-century and that was extended to volleyball in 2012.

Iranian officials said in January they will allow foreign women to attend matches at this year's Asian Volleyball Championships, due to take place in Tehran from July 31 to August 8, although local females will remain banned.

According to the Government, the rule is in place to protect women from the indecent behaviour of male fans.

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