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Climber Elnaz Rekabi Allowed to Travel Abroad for Competition

June 8, 2023
1 min read
Climber Elnaz Rekabi Allowed to Travel Abroad for Competition

Iranian authorities have allowed rock climber Elnaz Rekabi to participate in the upcoming Olympic selection competition in Italy, but only under stringent conditions.

Sources with knowledge of the matter told IranWire that the Ministry of Sports and Youth requested the athlete to provide a financial guarantee of 10 billion rials ($20,000) and a house deed before traveling abroad.

Rekabi, 33, previously faced a travel ban after competing in South Korea in October without mandatory headscarf amid widespread protests at home demanding more freedoms and women’s rights.

Her defiant move was praised worldwide but attracted criticism among Islamic Republic supporters.

Earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee expressed grave concerns regarding “the financial guarantees that athletes and teams have to provide to their National Federations before travelling abroad to participate in international sports competitions.”

The Islamic Republic requires all women in Iran to conceal their hair with a headscarf and wear loose fitting trousers under their coats while in public. 

Women athletes must abide by the mandatory hijab rule when competing outside the country.

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