Fears for Safety of Iranian Climber Mount After She Competes Without Hijab

I have ALLLL the worries for Iranian climber, Elnaz Rekabi. Why? Well, she dared to compete in a competition in South Korea without her hijab on Sunday, Oct. 16.

As I’m sure you’re well aware, Iranian police like to beat women to a pulp for “indecency,” so this isn’t looking good.

“Due to bad timing and unexpectedly being called to climb the wall, I inadvertently created a problem with my head covering,” Rekabi said.

CNN noted that “Iran mandates women wear a hijab when officially representing the country abroad,” so Rekabi competing without hers could have consequences.

The publication IranWire alleged Rekabi will be “directly transferred to Evin prison from the airport,” but this hasn’t been confirmed.

Remind me again how women in the United States are sooooo oppressed.

Rekabi reportedly posted on her Instagram on Oct. 18 that she was okay, but people aren’t buying it (and neither am I).

In a CNN interview, Mahmood Reza Amiry-Moghaddam, a director of Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights, said the “punishment has already started” for Rekabi.

“You know, the fact that she was incommunicado for one full day…and then she just wrote this one message on her Instagram. So, the pressure on her started already from South Korea,” Mahmood Reza Amiry-Moghaddam said.

This is a solemn reminder of how blessed we are to live in the United States. I hope Rekabi is okay, and if her competing without her hijab on was actually a form of protest—kudos to you, girl. You’ve got some ovaries of steel.