It is unknown whether Rekabi’s gesture was related to the wave of protests that has gripped Iran for more than a month. The climber was silent until now. Friends of hers told the BBC on Monday evening that they have no idea where she is.
It had been assumed on social media that removing the headscarf was indeed a gesture of adhesion. “We are proud of you,” was one of the many positive reactions on Twitter. The pro-government Iranian newspaper Hamshahric wrote somewhat menacingly: ‘We have to wait and see how the Ministry of Sports will react to this action.’
A growing number of Iranian athletes, actors and singers speak out about the protests in Iran, and especially about the violent crackdown by the Iranian security forces against the mostly young (and female) protesters.
Some get into trouble as a result and are arrested by the police, for interrogation and sometimes detention. Most of them are out on bail, the AP news agency reported, which made an inventory of known Iranians who have spoken out in favor of the protesters on social media and otherwise.
Others take the uncertain for the uncertain and do not return to their homeland. So is Nasim Eshqi, a fellow climber of Elnaz Rekabi. The 40-year-old former kickboxer decided not to return to Iran after an outdoor climbing tour in France. “Climbing means nothing to me at the moment,” she told German journalist Tom Dauer. “I feel like I could have been her.”
‘immoral’
Eshqi was referring to 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in a police station more than a month ago, probably after being mistreated because of her ‘immodest’ clothing. “I have been arrested in Iran in the past,” Eshqi said. ‘After that I didn’t dare go outside for a long time. That’s exactly what the regime wants.’
Another athlete who will stay away for the time being is footballer Ali Karimi, the Johan Cruijff of Iran. He also showed – from Dubai – his solidarity with the Iranian women. Given its popularity and status, that gesture had great significance in Iran. His villa in Tehran was confiscated by the police.
Two other footballers, Hossein Mahini and Hamidreza Aliasgari, were arrested and released on bail, according to AP. Volleyball player Amirhossein Esfandiar posted a video of clashes between protesters and police online and wrote: ‘You have no humanity, why do you beat and kill innocent people?’
One of Iran’s most popular classical singers, Homayoun Shajarian, projected a large photo of Mahsa Amini behind him on stage when he toured Australia last month. During the song “Dawn Bird” the audience sang along with the stanza: “The tyrant has blown away my nest like a hunter.” Upon returning to Tehran, Shajarian had to surrender his passport. He has a travel ban.
Protest songs are experiencing a real revival due to the events in Iran. That’s how the song became Baraye by singer Shervin Hajipour a huge hit, in Iran and abroad. Hajipour was arrested and has been released on bail since October 4.
Sevdaliza
Artists of Iranian descent outside Iran are also making themselves heard. Iranian-Dutch singer Sevda Alizadeh, known by her stage name Sevdaliza, has performed the song Woman Life Freedom (the main choice of the protesters) put online. “A woman without freedom is like a flower without soil,” she wrote on Instagram. Sevdalia was one of the guests in VPRO’s last year Summer guests.