Reza Pahlavi, the former Crown Prince of Iran, recently voiced his support for Iranian athletes in a heartfelt tweet. He drew attention to the struggles of Iranian female athletes who are forced to wear mandatory hijabs, contrasting their plight with that of the refugee team at the Olympics, nearly half of whom are Iranian exiles. Prince Reza Pahlavi expressed his vision for a future where Iranian women can compete freely and equally on the global stage.

He wrote:
“As an Iranian and an Olympic Games enthusiast, it is disheartening to see that nearly half of the refugee team members are Iranian athletes. Meanwhile, our female athletes are forced to compete under mandatory head coverings and restrictive clothing, putting them at a disadvantage. These conditions are unjust for Iranian athletes. They deserve better. I firmly believe that one day, all Iranian athletes will once again proudly and freely compete under the national flag of Iran in the Olympics and other world championships, bringing home a multitude of medals with the support of a united nation.”

THE CHALLENGES FACED BY IRANIAN ATHLETES

His message highlights the numerous challenges faced by Iranian athletes, especially women, and advocates for a future where they can compete without restrictive dress codes, representing their country with dignity and freedom.

In Iran, women are banned from participating in international competitions in many sports, such as wrestling, swimming, diving, water polo, gymnastics, boxing, cycling, judo, and equestrian events. The country enforces Islamic dress codes, requiring female athletes to compete in Islamic attire.

After the Islamic regime took power in 1978, Reza Pahlavi, then Crown Prince of Iran, left the country. Now residing in the United States, he remains a popular figure among many Iranians.