Where did Elnaz Rekabi go? The questioning of the fate of the climbing champion is a hot topic in Iran. The Persian BBC gave the alert, Monday, October 17, on the disappearance of the athlete, while his passport and his mobile phone were confiscated by a delegation of the regime. His relatives are without news. The day before, the sportswoman took off her veil during the last event of the Asian climbing championships, in South Korea, becoming one of the first Iranian women to participate in a competition under the colors of the Islamic Republic without the compulsory veil. .
With a dark sponge headband around her head, the champion finally placed fourth in the competition. If Elnaz Rekabi finished at the foot of the podium, his gesture had a strong resonance in Iran. While the country has been the scene for a month of demonstrations against the Islamic regime, the image of the Iranian woman has appeared on television channels around the world and is emerging as yet another sign of defiance towards power.
It was after a meeting with an Iranian official that Elnaz Rekabi disappeared, untraceable since leaving the Korean hotel, the Garden Seoul Hotel. According to the BBC, her relatives lost contact with her on Monday after she said she was with Iranian authorities. Rana Rahimpour, Iran specialist for the BBC, wrote on Twitter on Monday that Rekabi had returned to Iran two days earlier than expected, citing “concerns about his safety.” The same evening, the Iran International English television channel assured that the Iranian authorities had confiscated his passport in Seoul. According to the Iranian embassy in Seoul, she should land in Iran overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday with her teammates. The delegation insisted on strongly denying all the “fake news, lies and false information” that circulated about the Iranian woman’s fate.
Many of her compatriots met at Imam Khomeini International Airport to oppose the arrest and support the young woman. At least 201 people, according to NGO counts, lost their lives in the repression of the Revolutionary Guards, these militias responsible for maintaining order and respecting morals in Iran.
In line with Iranian athletes
In recent years, some athletes have chosen to appear without hijab during competitions. In 2019, boxer Sadaf Khadem removed her veil during a fight. An arrest warrant against him was immediately issued by the Iranian authorities. Iranian men’s soccer star Ali Karimi has also taken a stand in favor of the social movement. “Nothing could erase this ignominy”, assured the former player in reaction to the death of Masha Amini after his arrest by the Iranian morality police for “inappropriate attire”. He is being prosecuted by the Iranian courts for his support for the demonstrators.
In an ambiguous message broadcast on Instagram, an account in the name of Elnaz Rekabi not certified, reinforced the doubt. “I apologize for the concerns”, assures the message written on a black background, which evokes a problem of “timing” which would have prevented him from wearing his veil during the last test. In a press release sent this Tuesday morning, the International Federation (IFSC) explained that it was in contact with her and the Iranian Federation: “We understood that she was returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation at her arrival.”