Last weekend, Iranian mountaineer Elnaz Rekabi attended the Asian Championships without a veil. After Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody, he fulfilled the responsibility of the athletes of a country that was going through its biggest crisis. A few hours later, Rekabi’s friends, whose gestures were greatly appreciated, lost contact with Rekabi. After hours of uncertainty where there was speculation about his arrest, the athlete made a statement on Instagram.
The climber claimed to have “a problem with the headscarf” during the tournament and everything happened “accidentally due to an inappropriate situation”. He also apologized “To worry the Iranian people” and assured that he would be back with the whole team. Minutes ago, the regime government denounced “media gossip” and confirmed that it was all a trap because it “just fell”. But humanitarian organizations and activists in Iran they understood the message as self-censorship.
“Hijab is an option”
“We are concerned about the safety of Rekabi after competing without the clothes imposed by the Iranian government. There are reports that his mobile phone and passport were confiscated. They should let her compete without a hijab. It should be an option, not a tool of political pressure. The regime must stop killing, detaining and forcing women and girls to apologize for showing their hair. ‘Woman, life and freedom!
According to this NGO, Hundreds have died since the demonstrations beganAuthorities reported that 60 people, 12 of whom were members of the security forces, were killed. It should be said that in almost all of his writings, Rekabi appears with something on his mind. Either a veil or a hat, her hair is shown below, except for the last photo uploaded to date. Also, the climber’s career has been a real set of obstacles.
He almost always trains alone because, as he admits, he is not allowed to exercise with men and has to design his own kit for competitions. “When it’s hot, the hijab is a problem because your body needs to evacuate the heat.. That’s why we made a uniform that respects him and is compatible with climbing.” euronews A mountaineer who took the bronze at the last climbing world championship.
“they are liars”
Rekabi’s public demonstration was very strong, as was the active role of athletes in the protests against the Iranian regime. This situation Ali Daei is a former football player, the national team’s top scorer and has played in Germany for several seasons.. His passport was withdrawn after several strong demonstrations.
“My homeland is also my mother and my daughters. Not oppression and violence. Those who talk about the revolution and the dreams of martyrs know that they are talking about poverty, corruption, prostitution and embezzlement. They say one of our daughters died of heart failure.. Not true. “History will show who the liars are, citing the reason why the Iranian regime holds Mahsa Amini responsible for his death.”
Hertha Berlin, the club Daei plays for, has condemned the blockade, and his brother Mohammad has revealed to the media Varzesh3 Ali gave his whole life to raise the Iranian flag as high as possible. He loves his country and its people. He always tells the truth.” Because this is not a conflict between patriots and patriots. critics try these protests to create an alternative. Hossein Mahini, an international player with the team led by Carlos Queiroz, firmly believes this. He was arrested and his home ransacked after actively participating in the protests. Like his Iranian teammate Hamidreza Aliasgari, he was released on bail.
These processes were exposed by former Bayern Munich player and 2013 top Asian player Ali Karimi, who was tried by the regime’s justice as “one of the main leaders of the uprisings in the country”. a person who pours oil on the fire of the problems that cause the death and martyrdom of the youth of the country”, according to the ultra-conservative newspaper Kayhan.
“Death for the Session”
Last Friday, after the great prayer, a group of supporters of the Islamic Republic gathered outside Karimi’s house: “Death to the organizer of the uprising”. A banner supporting the protests in Iran was hung right on the stands of the Allianz Arena: “Solidarity with the feminist revolution Iranian!”.
Another Bundesliga player, Bayer Leverkusen forward Sardar Azmoun, defied rules that prevented players from expressing their opinions at national team rallies. He openly showed his support for the protests with a message on the networks: “It is a small price to pay for a single strand of hair of an Iranian woman if I cannot remain silent and the punishment is to be deported. They should be ashamed of the ease with which a person can be killed.”. The message disappeared hours later.
Feyenoord player and Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said the team he represents is “on the side of people who demand nothing but their fundamental rights”. However, responses from fans have been divided, and some find these critics timid. The conflict after Mahsa Amini’s death put the Iranian team in the center, which turned into a ‘witch hunt’ with a call and the closeness of the World Cup in Qatar.
‘Iran withdraws from World Cup’
In fact, an initiative has emerged within Iranian society calling for Iran to be excluded from the World Cup. “Why should FIFA give this state and its representatives a global showcase? Not only does it refuse to respect fundamental rights and human dignity: torture and kill their own people”, they draw attention from Open Stadiums.
This initiative has been fighting for years to allow women to freely enter football fields in Iran. In September 2022, the women of Tehran finally For the first time in over 40 years, he was able to see his teams in Azadi Province. Although, according to the organization, the situation is far from normalizing in a state that fears the power of sport as a social agitator.
In 2020, Greco-Roman wrestling competitor Navid Afkari was executed by the regime after being accused of killing a security guard during an anti-government demonstration. His lawyer claimed that he confessed after being tortured and that the accusations were fabricated. his death was used as a lesson against the opposition in Iran. Pressure against resistance is becoming increasingly difficult to pacify in a context of resistance where the playing fields become a powerful barricade.