When it was time for his participation in the Asian climbing championship in South Korea, Elnaz Rekabi appeared with his white long-sleeved shirt that identifies the Iranian team. But unlike her classmates who covered her head with a scarf, she only wore a very thin black bandana. The rest of her hair, which she tied up in a ponytail, was left in the air.
Immediately, her photo was shared thousands of times on Persian networks, where the 33-year-old was praised for her participation in the championship, in which she had placed fourth, but especially for the courage to appear without the mandatory hijab in Iran.
As Elhan's image went viral, fears for her safety grew. Last Monday, some versions spoke that her authorities had seized her mobile phone and her passport to send her back to Iran. Other versions spoke of the young woman being held incommunicado, which the Iranian embassy in the Asian country denied by calling it "fake news."
Shortly after, the young woman posted a message on her popular Instagram account, with almost 250,000 followers, in which she assured that she felt bad for "making everyone worried" and explained the reason why she had competed without a veil. She said that she had had some coordination problems with her competition and that she had been called in ahead of time.
"My head was uncovered without realizing it," he wrote after assuring that he would be returning home soon. Many in Iran questioned Rekabi's message, because in her opinion, the climber knew exactly what she was doing, as could be seen in the images recorded from the competition. Many of those who know her have assured some Iranian media from outside the country that the young woman has very clear positions and that she had made the decision to wear a hijab before.
The trip of the Iranian delegation to their country, according to some local media, was brought forward to yesterday despite the fact that it was scheduled for today, Wednesday. Some versions claim that it was done with the aim of confusing those who support the protests that have dominated life in Iran for more than a month and that they were planning a reception for the athlete at the airport.
Earlier this October, the tragic death of 22-year-old Kurdish Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly wearing Islamic dress wrong, brought thousands of people to the streets across Iran – especially women – under the slogan “ woman, life, freedom”.
While the authorities claimed that Mahsa Amini had previous illnesses, such as epilepsy, diabetes and a tumor on her head that she had operated on when she was a child, thousands of women have dropped their veils in the country and many others have protested by cutting their hair. .
They demand a social change that protects the rights and freedoms of all people, both men and women. The EU and many human rights organizations have called for a full investigation into Amini's death.
There was widespread concern in the country that Elnaz Rekabi might be detained at the airport upon landing in Iran. Or, failing her, that her passport be confiscated, as has happened with dozens of activists and artists who at other times have expressed their support for the protests.
In a testimony published yesterday by the Tasmin news agency, related to the Revolutionary Guard (a branch of the armed forces designed to protect the political system of the country's Islamic republic), her brother Davoud Rekabi assured that the athlete would give a wheel press conference upon arrival in Iran, where he would explain all the details.
"Unfortunately, some are trying to ride waves on this issue," said Elnaz's brother, before pointing out that his sister was wearing a headband at the time of the competition and was not trying to defy the Islamic Republic's rules. . He also said that when he appears before the media, his sister will do so wearing a veil.
