CNN
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Iranian rock climber Ernaz Rekabi’s family home has been demolished, according to reformist news outlet IranWire.
Rekhabi competed in South Korea in October without wearing a hijab. Anti-government protests swept Iran just after 22-year-old Martha Amini died while being detained by morality police for not wearing the hijab properly.
Some demonstrators in Iran saw Rekhabi as a symbol of a national uprising for greater freedom for women. But when she returned to Tehran, human rights groups expressed concern for her safety.
Footage obtained by CNN from IranWire shows destroyed structures and medals on the ground. A man filming a video clip describes what happened to the house. The video clip also shows Daboud, Rekavi’s brother, crying. According to Iranwire, Davod Rekhabi is a champion sport climber with 10 gold medals.
A man (identity unknown) who was filming the footage said off-camera, “This is the result of living in this country. A champion of the country who has won many kilos of medals for this country. To make this country proud.” They sprayed him with pepper spray, demolished the 39-square-meter house, and left. What can I say?”
It is not clear when the demolition took place.
CNN is unable to independently confirm whether Rekavi’s family home was destroyed by government order. Neither the authorities nor state media have publicly commented on the situation.
A video of Rekhabi wearing a headband with her hair ponytailed during a competition in Seoul went viral on social media and became an international headline. When she returned to Iran, a video posted on her social media appeared to show her being greeted by a crowd chanting “Ernaz the Hero” at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Climber wrote on his Instagram account later that week: [the] international community. ”
On both her Instagram account and in an interview with state media IRNA, Rekavi said it was “coincidence” that she attended the competition without a hijab, which Iran mandates women representing the country abroad to wear. suggests.
However, it is unclear whether Mr. Recabi’s comments were coerced.
