Iran: Elnaz Rekabi defies power and takes part in a competition without a veil

Her name is Elnaz Rekabi and she is brave.

On the night of October 16 to 17 in Seoul (South Korea), the climber finished fourth in the Asian climbing championship.

But if it is necessary to remember his name, it is not only for that.

Elnaz Rekabi is Iranian and she showed up against the wall with a simple scarf in her long hair.

Elnaz Rekabi is the first Iranian athlete in over 40 years to appear in a competition without a hijab, the traditional veil.

Since Iran became an Islamic Republic in 1979, Islamic law has prohibited women from appearing in competitions without this veil.

At 33, Elnaz Rekabi is the first to lift this taboo.

His act of courage obviously echoes the revolt that is brewing in his country.

Since the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the morality police because she allegedly covered her hair badly, Iran has been crossed by a wave of protests.

Across the country, women are defying authorities by burning their hijabs or deliberately going out without covering their heads.

Even if the movement is gaining momentum, taking part in it is an act of absolute courage because the risks taken are immense.

In a historic move, Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi who represented Iran at the Asian Climbing Competitions finals in Seoul, competed without hijab, disobeying the Islamic Republic's restrictions for female athletes.

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— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) October 16, 2022

Until then, no one had defied this prohibition.

For fear of serious reprisals, the order was always strictly respected.

In 1996, the rifle shooter Lyda Fariman who was the first Iranian to participate in the Olympics in 1996 after the 1979 Revolution had not withdrawn it.

She had even asked for a waiver - granted - to keep him during the opening ceremony.

She was the flag bearer of her delegation.

Ditto for the collective sports teams of football or basketball: they wear the Hijab.

Not all out of conviction but out of obligation.

In 2017, it should also be remembered, a young chess player, Dorsa Derakhshani, was excluded from the Iranian team.

She had been seen without a veil during a competition in Gibraltar.

Another symbol of weight for the Islamists in power.

During this same ordeal, the brother of the young woman had also been excluded.

Why ?

He had faced an Israeli adversary, which is normally prohibited so as not to accredit the existence of the Jewish state that Iran still does not recognize.

What happened to the two chess players?

Since 2018 they have been playing for the English national team.

For the past few weeks, part of Iranian sport has been in solidarity with the riots.

During a preparation match in Austria for the next World Cup, the players of the national football team kept a black jacket over their shirts during their country's anthem.