Elnaz Rekabi
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Nationality | Iran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Zanjan, Iran | 20 August 1989||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 161 cm (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Elnaz Rekabi (
She made global headlines in 2022 when she violated Iran's mandatory hijab rule while participating in the 2022 IFSC Climbing Asian Championships in Seoul, South Korea. Occurring during the Mahsa Amini protests, it was widely interpreted as an intentional violation to signal support for the protests.[7]
Hijab controversy
In 2022, she participated in the 2022 IFSC
On 21 October, the BBC, citing an "informed source", stated that Rekabi was put under pressure in to make a "forced confession" following her return to Iran. According to the same source, Rekabi, after arriving at the airport, was "held at the national Olympics academy under the watch of plainclothes officers until she met the minister", referring to Iran's sports minister Hamid Sajjadi. The source claimed the authorities threatened to take her family's property if she did not agree to make the "forced confession", and that Rekabi was put under house arrest following her return to Iran. Iranian authorities, however, stated that she was at home "in need of rest".[16][17]
Around 3 December, an unconfirmed video was distributed of Elnaz' medal-winning athlete brother Davood crying at a demolished house. The anonymous offscreen filmer says "This is the result of living in this country. A country's champion with kilos of medals for this country... They pepper-sprayed him and demolished a 39 sqm house and left."[18] Iranian media confirmed that Rekabi's family house had been demolished, but said that the demolition had occurred prior to the September 16 hijab incident, and that the demolition was because the house lacked a valid construction permit.[19]
Awards and accolades
- 2022 Recognition as one of BBC's 100 inspiring and influential women[20]
See also
References
- ^ "Iranian climber's World Cup dream comes true". Euronews. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ "Iran's Elnaz Rekabi Wins Gold at Sport Climbing Asia Cup". Tasnim News Agency. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ "Iranian Climber Elnaz Rekabi: Gender Not Important in Competitive Climbing". Tasnim News Agency. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ "Rock Climber Rekabi Keen on Jakarta Asian Games, 2020 Tokyo Olympics". Financial Tribune. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ "Iranian woman Rekabi wins first ever medal at IFSC World Championships". Tehran Times. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Worry grows for a female Iranian athlete who climbed without a hijab". NPR. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Opinion | Why Iran's leaders are so scared of a rock climber". MSNBC.
- ^ "Watch: Athlete competes without hijab, defying Iran's diktat for female players". Hindustan Times. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Iranian female rock climber goes missing – BBC". 18 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Fears for Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi after she competed in Seoul without a hijab". the Guardian. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ Gritten, David (18 October 2022). "Elnaz Rekabi: Iranian climber 'says hijab fell off accidentally' at competition". BBC News. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- AP News.
- ^ Elnaz Rekabi: Crowd greet Iranian climber who broke hijab rule on return BBC News, 19 October 2022
- ^ Iranian climber who competed without hijab welcomed by crowds in Tehran Washington Post, Victoria Bisset, 19 October 2022
- ^ Iranian climber who competed without hijab met by jubilant crowds in Tehran The Guardian, Patrick Wintour, 19 October 2022
- ^ Ghobadi, Parham. "Iran: Climber Elnaz Rekabi apology was forced, source says". BBC. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Call to protect Iran climber after reported house arrest". France24. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Iranian athlete's family home demolished by officials, media outlet says". CNN. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- ^ "Elnaz Rekabi: Family home of Iranian climber demolished". BBC News. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year?". 6 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
External links
- Elnaz Rekabi at IFSC