Elnaz Rekabi, Iranian Rock Climber, Fears Prosecution in Iran
Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi who represented her country at an international event in South Korea without wearing a hijab headed home Tuesday (18/10/2022) morning amid fears that she would get prosecuted upon her arrival in Tehran. Ms Rekabi, 33, in open defiance of the Iranian regime, took part in the Asian Sport Climbing Championships in Seoul on Sunday without a headscarf and was soon reported to be missing. According to The Telegraph (UK), Rekabi’s friends were unable to contact her since Sunday.
The BBC, quoting “well-informed sources”, claimed that her passport and mobile phone were confiscated.
Rekabi finished fourth in the climbing championships but her decision to not wear a hijab, seen as a sign of protest against the Iranian regime, was broadcast across the world. Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in South Korea strongly condemned the “misinformation” surrounding her. It said in a tweet: “Ms. Elnaz Rekabi departed from Seoul to Iran, early morning of October 18, 2022, along with the other members of the team. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Korea strongly denies all the fake, false news and disinformation regarding Ms. Elnaz Rekabi.”
According to reports, a large crowd greeted the sports climber at the Tehran airport. Many consider her a “heroine” for having competed with her hair uncovered. Although she is said to have defied Iran’s strict dress code, Rekabi said in an Instagram post that her hijab had fallen off “inadvertently”. However, many are sceptical about her explanation as they believe it must have been written under duress.
Her family members met her at the airport, hugging her and presenting bunches of flowers. Rekabi has been hailed as a new symbol of the protests led by women in Iran. Following the release of a video showing her competing without a hair covering, Rekabi’s friends said they could not contact her, and they raised concerns over her safety. On Tuesday, in an Instagram post she apologised for “getting everybody worried”.
“Due to bad timing, and the unanticipated call for me to climb the wall, my head covering inadvertently came off,” she said.
She repeated this in a brief interview with state media on her arrival in Tehran, adding that she was feeling “tense” about returning home. It is not known Where she was taken after her arrival at the airport.
Watch the video of the sports event on The AIDEM YouTube Channel here.
This is a developing story: We’ll give updates on the situation as we learn more.
Last updated on 19/10/2022 03:25 PM
