Elnaz Rekabi, athlete who has become a symbol of the revolt

Accustomed to climbing walls, Elnaz Rekabi must now face that of repression. She has become one of the symbols of the revolt in her country since her appearance without a veil during a competition, Sunday October 16, in South Korea. Although outside the borders of his country, the dress code of the Islamic republic applies abroad for sportswomen. Many therefore saw in his gesture a mark of disobedience and support for the demonstrators, even if the athlete did not comment on it.

For his return to Tehran airport on Tuesday, October 18, a crowd came to cheer him on. In front of the cameras, the sportswoman, equipped with her veil, explains that shewould have forgotten involuntarily, during the competition. Many observers believe that these statements were made under duress, even though Elnaz Rekabi wore the veil at the start of the competition. For 48 hours, her family had no further news, while she was reportedly held at the Iranian Embassy. A concern relayed on the Internet. Other athletes tried to make their voices heard. The men’s football team had hidden his jersey and the Iranian flag which appears there under a black parka at the time of the national anthem before a match.