The image of the 33-year-old Iranian climbing a bareheaded climbing wall had gone around the world. After several days of worrying silence, Elnaz Rekabi finally spoke on social networks.
It is on Instagram that Elnaz Rekabi chose to write all the gratitude she feels for ” the iranian people “and for all” people in the world who supported her, in a text written in Farsi and English entitled “ I, the people of Iran “. She added without too much precision: The future will not be easy without your support “.
Last weekend, Elnaz Rekabi participated, under the colors of Iran and without a veil, in the Asian climbing championships in Seoul. She thus became the first Iranian sportswoman to make this gesture during an international competition. This historic gesture had been interpreted as a demonstration of solidarity with the demonstrations which have shaken Iran for more than a month.
Of Wednesday return to Tehran after several hours of silence, the young woman was greeted by a crowd of supporters, before being received during the day by the Minister of Sports Hamid Sajjadi, according to an official press release. The young woman ended up apologizing, saying that she had dropped her veil by mistake.
Several human rights organizations have expressed their concern about the fate of the sportswoman who could be subjected to threats and pressure from the authorities. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a New York-based group, called the International Climbing Federation ” to work with human rights organizations to protect Elnaz Rekabi and all Iranian athletes “. The London-based BBC Persian reported that Elnaz Rekabi was held at the National Olympic Academy under the watch of plainclothes officers. She is now believed to have been placed under house arrest.
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