After taking part in a climbing competition without wearing the hijab, as she is required to, Iranian climber Elnaz Kerabi was not seen publicly for three days. On October 19, she was greeted by hundreds of people at Tehran airport, where she gave an interview on state television.
“I returned to Iran in good health”said the 33-year-old sportswoman, her features drawn. “I apologize to the Iranians for the tensions created”, she added. For nearly seventy-two hours, concern grew after he left Seoul.
By not wearing a veil during her competition, Elnaz Rekabi would have supported the current Iranian protest movement. Fahrad Modiri, the son of director Mehran Modiri, has, on social media, nuanced the scope of Iranian celebrities’ public apologies. Their first reaction (…) is their true opinion. The second is the result of enormous pressures”he summarized.