Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi meets with Minister of Sports in Tehran
Daniel Stewart - 5h ago
Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi met on Wednesday in Tehran with the country's Minister of Sports, Said Hamid Sajjadi, just hours after arriving in Iran following her controversial participation in a competition in South Korea where she took part without a veil.
File - Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, during a competition in Toulouse in 2019.
Daniel Stewart - 5h ago
Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi met on Wednesday in Tehran with the country's Minister of Sports, Said Hamid Sajjadi, just hours after arriving in Iran following her controversial participation in a competition in South Korea where she took part without a veil.
File - Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, during a competition in Toulouse in 2019.
- MICKAEL CHAVET / ZUMA PRESS / CONTACTOPHOTO© Provided by News 360
During her meeting with Sajjadi, Rekabi explained aspects related to her professional activity and her participation in the championship, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA, which went into more details about the conversation between the minister and the climber.
The head of the Sports Ministry has told Rekabi that this ministry "belongs to all athletes" and stressed that "all legal tools are and will always be at the service of athletes".
The Iranian climber returned to Tehran on Wednesday, where she was welcomed by a crowd shouting "heroine" although she herself has insisted that if she competed without a veil it was by accident, not as a political gesture against the Government of the Islamic Republic.
Rekabi, who was reported missing on Tuesday, has insisted in statements to the official media on the thesis that she had previously defended on Instagram. Thus, she said that the organizers of the competition in Seoul called her out of the blue and she could not wear the hijab, included in the official clothing of the national team for women.
During her meeting with Sajjadi, Rekabi explained aspects related to her professional activity and her participation in the championship, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA, which went into more details about the conversation between the minister and the climber.
The head of the Sports Ministry has told Rekabi that this ministry "belongs to all athletes" and stressed that "all legal tools are and will always be at the service of athletes".
The Iranian climber returned to Tehran on Wednesday, where she was welcomed by a crowd shouting "heroine" although she herself has insisted that if she competed without a veil it was by accident, not as a political gesture against the Government of the Islamic Republic.
Rekabi, who was reported missing on Tuesday, has insisted in statements to the official media on the thesis that she had previously defended on Instagram. Thus, she said that the organizers of the competition in Seoul called her out of the blue and she could not wear the hijab, included in the official clothing of the national team for women.
Iranian climber who competed without hijab returns to cheering crowds amid concerns for her safety
Hyder Abbasi and Helena Skinner and Meagan Fitzgerald and Yuliya Talmazan - 10h ago
An Iranian rock climber who drew global headlines and concern after competing without the Islamic Republic's compulsory headscarf arrived home early Wednesday to cheering crowds.
Elnaz Rekabi's return from the competition in South Korea sparked alarm among activists and rights groups, with the country gripped by a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in a hospital three days after being arrested by the morality police.
In a video broadcast by the state-run IRNA news agency, the 33-year-old athlete appeared to repeat an earlier explanation posted to her Instagram that said she had unintentionally competed without a hijab.
Speaking to journalists in Farsi at an airport in the capital Tehran, Rekabi said that: "I was busy putting on my shoes and gear when I was called to compete and I forgot to put on the hijab I had with me.”
Rekabi can be seen in the video wearing a baseball cap with a black hoodie covering her hair.
Separate videos posted on social media and verified by NBC News show a crowd clapping and chanting at a terminal at the Imam Khomenei International Airport and again as a white van drives past.
The circumstances under which the interview and the Instagram message were delivered remain unclear. NBC News could not independently verify if Rekabi wrote the message herself.
Image: Iranian competitive climber Elnaz Rekabi returns home (Borna News / via EPA)© Provided by NBC News
The Islamic headscarf has become a focus of weeks of social unrest that have engulfed Iran and developed into the most serious challenge to the government in more than a decade.
Rekabi did not wear the hijab during Sunday’s final at the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship, in which she finished fourth.
Given that female athletes from Iran always wear a hijab while competing abroad and Rekabi had previously done so herself, her appearance without the headscarf was interpreted by many observers as a display of solidarity with the protesters at home.
Human rights groups expressed growing fears for Rekabi's safety Tuesday as it emerged she was flying home from South Korea.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights, said in an emailed statement that he was very concerned for Rekabi and suspects that Iranian authorities had “forced” her to say that she did not wear her hijab by accident.
“Based on our knowledge of the Islamic Republic, they will go very far to set an example for other athletes and young girls in general, so that this kind of disobedience doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The Iranian Embassy in Seoul said in a tweet, written in English, that Rekabi had departed from the South Korean capital for Iran “along with the other members of the team.”
“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Korea strongly denies all the fake, false news and disinformation regarding Ms. Elnaz Rekabi,” it added.
Rekabi is not the first female Iranian involved in competitions abroad to face issues after appearing in attire that violates the dress code.
Boxer Sadaf Khadem was forced to stay in France after she said Iranian authorities issued a warrant for her arrest when she competed without a headscarf and in shorts in 2019.
Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat who fled to the U.K. in 2020 and claimed asylum after being accused by an Iranian official of not wearing her headscarf correctly while refereeing that year's Women’s World Chess Championship in Shanghai.
"What happened to me was that after one round, one round of the tournament, I received a message that the hijab is not proper," Bayat told NBC News Tuesday. "The next day I decided to fight against it," she said, explaining she decided to push the headscarf back "to send the message that leave me alone because I’m tolerating it already with difficulty."
Bayat, 35, said she saw parallels in Rekabi's situation, especially after the Instagram post.
"This was exactly the same thing that happened to me," she said, explaining that she was forced to write an apology for not wearing the hijab correctly. "This was the first thing that I was asked to do, to write an apology letter on Instagram."
Bayat also said that she was told to give interviews to two Iranian state-run news agencies and to blame photographers for publishing the photos showing her not wearing the hijab correctly. "And they told me to tell that all my achievements was because of the Islamic regime," she said.
The International Federation of Sport Climbing said in a statement Tuesday that it has been in contact with Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation.
“There is a lot of information in the public sphere regarding Ms Rekabi and as an organization we have been trying to establish the facts,” the statement said. “Our understanding is that she is returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival.”
The organization added that it supported any efforts to “keep a valued member of our community safe in this situation,” while emphasizing athletes’ rights and expression of free speech.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hyder Abbasi and Helena Skinner and Meagan Fitzgerald and Yuliya Talmazan - 10h ago
An Iranian rock climber who drew global headlines and concern after competing without the Islamic Republic's compulsory headscarf arrived home early Wednesday to cheering crowds.
Elnaz Rekabi's return from the competition in South Korea sparked alarm among activists and rights groups, with the country gripped by a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in a hospital three days after being arrested by the morality police.
In a video broadcast by the state-run IRNA news agency, the 33-year-old athlete appeared to repeat an earlier explanation posted to her Instagram that said she had unintentionally competed without a hijab.
Speaking to journalists in Farsi at an airport in the capital Tehran, Rekabi said that: "I was busy putting on my shoes and gear when I was called to compete and I forgot to put on the hijab I had with me.”
Rekabi can be seen in the video wearing a baseball cap with a black hoodie covering her hair.
Separate videos posted on social media and verified by NBC News show a crowd clapping and chanting at a terminal at the Imam Khomenei International Airport and again as a white van drives past.
The circumstances under which the interview and the Instagram message were delivered remain unclear. NBC News could not independently verify if Rekabi wrote the message herself.
Image: Iranian competitive climber Elnaz Rekabi returns home (Borna News / via EPA)© Provided by NBC News
The Islamic headscarf has become a focus of weeks of social unrest that have engulfed Iran and developed into the most serious challenge to the government in more than a decade.
Rekabi did not wear the hijab during Sunday’s final at the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship, in which she finished fourth.
Given that female athletes from Iran always wear a hijab while competing abroad and Rekabi had previously done so herself, her appearance without the headscarf was interpreted by many observers as a display of solidarity with the protesters at home.
Human rights groups expressed growing fears for Rekabi's safety Tuesday as it emerged she was flying home from South Korea.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights, said in an emailed statement that he was very concerned for Rekabi and suspects that Iranian authorities had “forced” her to say that she did not wear her hijab by accident.
“Based on our knowledge of the Islamic Republic, they will go very far to set an example for other athletes and young girls in general, so that this kind of disobedience doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The Iranian Embassy in Seoul said in a tweet, written in English, that Rekabi had departed from the South Korean capital for Iran “along with the other members of the team.”
“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Korea strongly denies all the fake, false news and disinformation regarding Ms. Elnaz Rekabi,” it added.
Rekabi is not the first female Iranian involved in competitions abroad to face issues after appearing in attire that violates the dress code.
Boxer Sadaf Khadem was forced to stay in France after she said Iranian authorities issued a warrant for her arrest when she competed without a headscarf and in shorts in 2019.
Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat who fled to the U.K. in 2020 and claimed asylum after being accused by an Iranian official of not wearing her headscarf correctly while refereeing that year's Women’s World Chess Championship in Shanghai.
"What happened to me was that after one round, one round of the tournament, I received a message that the hijab is not proper," Bayat told NBC News Tuesday. "The next day I decided to fight against it," she said, explaining she decided to push the headscarf back "to send the message that leave me alone because I’m tolerating it already with difficulty."
Bayat, 35, said she saw parallels in Rekabi's situation, especially after the Instagram post.
"This was exactly the same thing that happened to me," she said, explaining that she was forced to write an apology for not wearing the hijab correctly. "This was the first thing that I was asked to do, to write an apology letter on Instagram."
Bayat also said that she was told to give interviews to two Iranian state-run news agencies and to blame photographers for publishing the photos showing her not wearing the hijab correctly. "And they told me to tell that all my achievements was because of the Islamic regime," she said.
The International Federation of Sport Climbing said in a statement Tuesday that it has been in contact with Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation.
“There is a lot of information in the public sphere regarding Ms Rekabi and as an organization we have been trying to establish the facts,” the statement said. “Our understanding is that she is returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival.”
The organization added that it supported any efforts to “keep a valued member of our community safe in this situation,” while emphasizing athletes’ rights and expression of free speech.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Elnaz Rekabi: Fans cheer, clap as climber returns to Iran
Wed, October 19, 2022
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, who caused controversy by competing in an international contest without a headscarf, has returned to Iran to cheering supporters, reiterating in comments to state media she had climbed without a hijab unintentionally.
Footage had shown Rekabi, 33, scaling a wall without her head covered while representing Iran at a competition in South Korea, at a time of unprecedented protests in Iran over the death in custody of a young woman detained by morality police for "inappropriate attire."
In comments to state TV upon her arrival in Tehran, Rekabi said she had returned in "full health" and apologised to "the people of Iran for the turbulence and worry that I created", her head covered by a baseball cap and a hood as she spoke.
“The struggle that I had with wearing my shoes and preparing my gear made me forget about the proper hijab that I should have had, and I went to the wall and ascended," she added.
A crowd of well-wishers cheered, clapped and recorded the scene on mobile phones as she was driven away from the airport, according to footage posted on Twitter.
In a statement published on her Instagram account on Tuesday, Rekabi cited poor scheduling as the reason she had competed without a headscarf, saying she had been called to climb unexpectedly.
In her televised comments Rekabi, who came fourth in the competition, denied she had been unreachable for 48 hours, and said the team had returned to Iran as planned. She said she had no plan to quit the national team.
BBC Persian had reported on Tuesday that friends had been unable to contact her, and there were fears for her safety. Iran’s embassy in South Korea, on Twitter, denied reports about her going missing after the competition.
The International Olympic Committee said it had talked to the athlete and had received assurances from the Iran's national Olympic committee (NOC) she would not face consequences.
"A joint meeting took place today between the IOC, the (international climbing federation) IFSC and the Iranian NOC, during which the IOC and the IFSC received clear assurances that Ms Rekabi will not suffer any consequences and will continue to train and compete," an IOC spokesperson said.
Another joint meeting was then held between the groups and Rekabi, the spokesperson said, adding that the IOC would monitor the situation closely in the days and weeks to come.
The death last month of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Islamic Republic's morality police, who detained her for "inappropriate attire", prompted nationwide protests during which women have removed and burned headscarves.
The protests ignited by Amini's death have grown into one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution, though the unrest does not appear close to toppling the system.
(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Additional reporting by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by William Maclean and Frank Jack Daniel)
Wed, October 19, 2022
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, who caused controversy by competing in an international contest without a headscarf, has returned to Iran to cheering supporters, reiterating in comments to state media she had climbed without a hijab unintentionally.
Footage had shown Rekabi, 33, scaling a wall without her head covered while representing Iran at a competition in South Korea, at a time of unprecedented protests in Iran over the death in custody of a young woman detained by morality police for "inappropriate attire."
In comments to state TV upon her arrival in Tehran, Rekabi said she had returned in "full health" and apologised to "the people of Iran for the turbulence and worry that I created", her head covered by a baseball cap and a hood as she spoke.
“The struggle that I had with wearing my shoes and preparing my gear made me forget about the proper hijab that I should have had, and I went to the wall and ascended," she added.
A crowd of well-wishers cheered, clapped and recorded the scene on mobile phones as she was driven away from the airport, according to footage posted on Twitter.
In a statement published on her Instagram account on Tuesday, Rekabi cited poor scheduling as the reason she had competed without a headscarf, saying she had been called to climb unexpectedly.
In her televised comments Rekabi, who came fourth in the competition, denied she had been unreachable for 48 hours, and said the team had returned to Iran as planned. She said she had no plan to quit the national team.
BBC Persian had reported on Tuesday that friends had been unable to contact her, and there were fears for her safety. Iran’s embassy in South Korea, on Twitter, denied reports about her going missing after the competition.
The International Olympic Committee said it had talked to the athlete and had received assurances from the Iran's national Olympic committee (NOC) she would not face consequences.
"A joint meeting took place today between the IOC, the (international climbing federation) IFSC and the Iranian NOC, during which the IOC and the IFSC received clear assurances that Ms Rekabi will not suffer any consequences and will continue to train and compete," an IOC spokesperson said.
Another joint meeting was then held between the groups and Rekabi, the spokesperson said, adding that the IOC would monitor the situation closely in the days and weeks to come.
The death last month of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Islamic Republic's morality police, who detained her for "inappropriate attire", prompted nationwide protests during which women have removed and burned headscarves.
The protests ignited by Amini's death have grown into one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution, though the unrest does not appear close to toppling the system.
(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Additional reporting by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by William Maclean and Frank Jack Daniel)
FAKE NEWS
Iranian Athlete Elnaz Rekabi Will Be Jailed for Competing Without HijabAFTER BEING WELCOMED HOME A HERO
I DON'T THINK SO
Iranian Athlete Elnaz Rekabi Will Be Jailed for Competing Without Hijab
Jason Duaine Hahn
Tue, October 18, 2022
An Iranian rock climber who appeared without a hijab while competing in South Korea will be jailed, a news organization in the country has reported.
On Sunday, 33-year-old Elnaz Rekabi made headlines during the Asian Championships climbing competition in Seoul when she competed without a head covering, which Iran's government requires women to wear. The hijab is even required during sporting competitions when they are representing the country abroad, per CNN.
Footage of Rekabi's climb was shared on social media, with many saying her appearance was likely an "act of defiance" against the requirement.
According to the New York Times, Rekabi returned to Iran with her team on Tuesday. A post to her Instagram page later said that she did not wear a hijab during her climb because of "bad timing."
"Due to bad timing, and the unanticipated call for me to climb the wall, my head covering inadvertently came off," the message said, per a translation shared by BBC.
The message said Rekabi was "alongside the team based on the pre-arranged schedule".
RELATED: Iran's Soccer Team Covers Up Their National Emblem as Mahsa Amini Protests Continue
A correspondent at BBC Persian told the network that the wording of Rekabi's message made it appear as if it were written by someone under intimidation. Iran has previously been criticized for forcing people, often activists, into making public forced confessions.
The controversy over Rekabi's lack of hijab comes as protests continue throughout Iran after the death of a 22-year-old woman, who authorities arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely, according to CNN.
RELATED: U.S. Men's National Soccer Team Secures Spot in 2022 World Cup After 8-Year Drought: 'Proud Moment'
Iranian news outlet IranWire reported on Tuesday that Rekabi will be jailed by authorities after her return to the country. IranWire said the government has required women to wear a hijab since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
RELATED VIDEO: Abby Wambach Says USWNT Equal Pay Victory Is a 'Huge Deal' for 'Women Everywhere'
An International Federation of Sport Climbing official told CNN that they were "aware" of Rekabi's ordeal.
"There is a lot of information in the public sphere regarding Ms. Rekabi and as an organization we have been trying to establish the facts. We have also been in contact with Ms. Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation," a statement by the IFSC said.
They added: "We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival."
Iranian Athlete Elnaz Rekabi Will Be Jailed for Competing Without Hijab
Jason Duaine Hahn
Tue, October 18, 2022
An Iranian rock climber who appeared without a hijab while competing in South Korea will be jailed, a news organization in the country has reported.
On Sunday, 33-year-old Elnaz Rekabi made headlines during the Asian Championships climbing competition in Seoul when she competed without a head covering, which Iran's government requires women to wear. The hijab is even required during sporting competitions when they are representing the country abroad, per CNN.
Footage of Rekabi's climb was shared on social media, with many saying her appearance was likely an "act of defiance" against the requirement.
According to the New York Times, Rekabi returned to Iran with her team on Tuesday. A post to her Instagram page later said that she did not wear a hijab during her climb because of "bad timing."
"Due to bad timing, and the unanticipated call for me to climb the wall, my head covering inadvertently came off," the message said, per a translation shared by BBC.
The message said Rekabi was "alongside the team based on the pre-arranged schedule".
RELATED: Iran's Soccer Team Covers Up Their National Emblem as Mahsa Amini Protests Continue
A correspondent at BBC Persian told the network that the wording of Rekabi's message made it appear as if it were written by someone under intimidation. Iran has previously been criticized for forcing people, often activists, into making public forced confessions.
The controversy over Rekabi's lack of hijab comes as protests continue throughout Iran after the death of a 22-year-old woman, who authorities arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely, according to CNN.
RELATED: U.S. Men's National Soccer Team Secures Spot in 2022 World Cup After 8-Year Drought: 'Proud Moment'
Iranian news outlet IranWire reported on Tuesday that Rekabi will be jailed by authorities after her return to the country. IranWire said the government has required women to wear a hijab since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
RELATED VIDEO: Abby Wambach Says USWNT Equal Pay Victory Is a 'Huge Deal' for 'Women Everywhere'
An International Federation of Sport Climbing official told CNN that they were "aware" of Rekabi's ordeal.
"There is a lot of information in the public sphere regarding Ms. Rekabi and as an organization we have been trying to establish the facts. We have also been in contact with Ms. Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation," a statement by the IFSC said.
They added: "We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival."
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