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Elnaz Rekabi

Iran Destroys Family Home of Iranian Rock Climber who Competed without Headscarf

Iran has destroyed a villa owned by a family member of an Iranian rock climber, who competed in an overseas competition without her headscarf, a video appears to show.

In the undated video, the brother of Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi, an athlete himself, is seen sobbing by the ruins of a home with medals on the ground.

Ms Rekabi, 33, and her brother Davoud were both reportedly arrested after Ms Rekabi's return to Iran, following the tournament in South Korea in October, in which she competed without a headscarf.

According to local media, the villa was not demolished as an act of retaliation against Ms Rekabi's appearance in South Korea. Iranian media said the house was razed by authorities before Ms Rekabi took part in the competition, adding Mr Rekabi did not hold the correct permit for its construction.

Earlier, Ms Rekabi posted a suspicious apology video on her Instagram Stories saying the hijab dropped by mistake and she was returning home, with the athlete and her brother both allegedly detained shortly afterwards.

The Iranian government routinely pressures activists at home and abroad, often airing what rights groups describe as coerced confessions on state television. (DM / VFI News)