Iranian demonstrates – without a headscarf, with a lot of courage: climber Rekabi sets an example – sport

Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi made a historic gesture at the Asian Championships.

Black headband, black ponytail, the sleeves of her long-sleeved shirt pushed up: This is how Elnaz Rekabi went to the climbing final at the Asian Championships. She looked like any athlete. But not in her Iranian homeland, because one crucial detail was missing: the headscarf.

Although Rekabi missed the podium, her 4th place is waste. She has accomplished something greater. A very personal revolution that made her world famous in no time. 6 years ago, Rekabi was the first professional climbing athlete in her country to express her great respect for her own veil with a religious background. Because of the intense heat when climbing, she even designed an outfit “that respects the hijab and is compatible with climbing”.

Between admiration and concern

But now it’s enough. Rekabi joins the ranks of those who are protesting against gender discrimination in their homeland. With this courage, she reaps huge admiration.

An “incredible moment” writes the Iranian-born BBC-Correspondent Bahman Kalbasi on the video of the 33-year-old. The German journalist Natalie Amiri sees “a revolution in Iranian professional sport”. But she also has concerns: “The question is whether she can or will return now.”

Rekabi is not alone

Iranian women also have to wear headscarves in sports competitions abroad. A moral rule that is now being vehemently questioned more and more often. For weeks, women in the Islamic world in particular have been protesting against the government and rules. They burn their headscarves or demonstrate together – as a reaction to the fate of Mahsa Amini.

The 22-year-old was arrested in September for allegedly not wearing her headscarf in accordance with strict regulations. A short time later she was dead, the circumstances are unclear, the impact is huge.