Iranian climber takes off her headscarf – now she’s missing. Don’t want to miss a ski race? Here is the calendar for the Ski World Cup 2022/23

What happened?

Elnaz Rekabi is 33 years old and an Iranian sport climber. On Monday, the athlete caused a stir at the Asian Championships in Seoul, South Korea. Rekabi participated without the hijab, the traditional headscarf that Iranian women are required to wear in public under Islamic law in the country. The action was seen by observers as a statement of solidarity with the protests in their country.

Rekabi is now missing. Her friends have been unable to reach her since Sunday evening, the BBC reports. The athlete’s cell phone and passport were reportedly seized after the match. Her whereabouts are currently unknown. According to a BBC report, Rekabi is already on his way back to Iran.

Immediately after Rekabi’s performance in Seoul, there was speculation that this could have consequences for the athlete. While the 33-year-old was praised on social media for her bravery, Iranian media reacted with outrage. For example, the state-affiliated newspaper “Hamshari” wrote: “It remains to be seen how the Ministry of Sports will react to this action.”

Iran says so

The Iranian embassy in Seoul rejected the allegations – the 33-year-old and her team would fly back to Tehran on Tuesday as scheduled, it said.

Rekabi says it

In an Instagram story from an account attributed to Rekabi, the athlete apologized for not wearing a headscarf. “Due to inappropriate timing and an unforeseen call to climb,” she inadvertently did not wear the headscarf, it says. “I am currently on my way to Iran with the team, according to the previously agreed schedule.”

Observers interpreted the apology as a forced statement. The Iranian authorities regularly exert pressure on activists at home and abroad. Similar apologies are also aired on state television, which human rights groups have criticized as forced confessions.

Why did the action cause such a stir?

In Iran, it is mandatory for women to wear a headscarf in public and to cover the rest of the body as well. This goes back to the Islamic laws introduced with the 1979 revolution.

The headscarf requirement also applies to female athletes, even if they participate in competitions outside their home country. According to media reports, Rekabi is at the very least threatened with expulsion from the national team – and even more so according to the fears that have now been expressed.

What will happen to Rekabi now?

The concerns about the top athlete are now great. On Twitter, countless people are expressing concern that something could happen to Rekabi and that she is in danger after her disappearance.

Gabriel Noronha, a former US special adviser on Iran, writes that Rekabi should be sent directly to the infamous Ewin Prison. She was lured to the Iranian embassy in Seoul under a pretext. He refers to the Iranian news portal “IranWire”.

Ewin Prison has been making headlines in recent days after a prison riot and fire. Unpopular people from the Iranian state have always been in prison, often political prisoners. (against)