Elnaz Rekabi Defies Islamic Republic And Competes At Asian Climbing Competition Without A Hijab. Historic Move!

By Ritu Sanghvi Updated October 18, 2022 12:37 PM

On September 16, a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini was killed for not wearing a hijab in Iran. Following her death, many protests sparked throughout the country and challenged the Islamic Republic’s restrictions. The protests that are still ongoing are one of the boldest and biggest challenges the rulers of Iran have faced since the 1979 revolution. And now, it is an Iranian athlete that openly supported the protests in a historic move. Elnaz Rekabi openly defied the Islamic Republic’s restrictions on female athletes at the Asian climbing competition finals in Seoul where she climbed without covering her head with a hijab.

On Sunday, Elnaz Rekabi, the Iranian climber, competed at the Asian climbing competition finals in Seoul without covering her head with a hijab. Her move came right when there are anti-hijab protests are taking place in her home country. Her move openly defied the Islamic Republic’s restrictions on female athletes.

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. pic.twitter.com/KvxE5NoQLi

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

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Supports Iranian Women In Their Anti-Hijab Protests, Urges People To Stay Informed And Amplify Their Voices!

A video of Elnaz Rekabi went viral on social media. The video shows the Iranian climber competing in the finals at the Asian Climbing Competition in the South Korean capital Seoul without a hijab. As per reports, the move that directly disobeyed the Islamic Republic’s restrictions on female athletes has landed the athlete in Evin prison. She will be taken to the prison directly from the airport.

Also Read: Iranian Woman Shot Six Times During The Anti-Hijab Protest. Another Woman’s Life Lost!

After the weeklong competition, on Sunday, Elnaz Rekabi competed without a hijab, while defying the Islamic Republic’s restrictions, and finished in fourth place. Her historic move has ensured a change of plans where she will be coming a day early to Iran while the entire team comes a day later. In fact, reports also suggest that her phone and passport have been confiscated. Many people took to Twitter to show their concerns regarding her safety.

For those unversed, ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, there is a mandated rule that women have to wear hijab in Iran. And this rule also applies outside the country when the women are officially representing the country.