Nasim Eshqi
climbing towards freedom
Climber, human rights activist and sports scientist Nasim Eshqi was born in Iran but now lives in Italy. Due to the current political and social situation, it is not possible for her to return to her home country, as she actively campaigns for freedom, security, human rights and women's rights in particular - a truly inspiring champion.
Nasim's great sporting passion is climbing. She took up climbing relatively late, at the age of 23, and is now one of the world's top female athletes. Following the call of the mountains, she has established 50 new climbing routes in Iran, among other things.
Nasim stands out: she wears colorful outfits, modern, short sportswear and pink fingernails; that alone contradicts Iran's ideas. Her climbing in Bisotun and Baraghan, the most famous climbing spots in Iran, is met with social ostracism, rope teams with men and not wearing a hijab - both forbidden in Iran - bring her into the focus of the morality police. Nasim was arrested in 2005. However, this does not stop her from continuing to climb - all the way to the top of the world's female climbing athletes.
In September 2022, the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the vice squad for violating the hijab law and died in hospital shortly afterwards, sparked nationwide protests. Nasim, who was in Europe at the time, also became part of this protest, using her voice and her reach to draw attention to the injustices and abuses in Iran. Nasim becomes a human rights activist who campaigns for the situation of women in Iran. She continues to speak out against the Iranian regime on social media, in lectures and interviews. She has since published a book and a film, for which she won the 21st Century Adventurer Award at OutDoor by ISPO 2024.
Climbing, freedom & women's rights. Nasim Eshqi is not afraid of risk or challenge, whether as a professional climber or human rights activist. The routes she opens and her other projects are part of an ongoing conversation about women's and children's rights, freedom and community. Now she talks about achieving high levels of difficulty and even higher goals - using sport as a personal sanctuary and catalyst for change.
Moving Adventures Medien GmbH and its mobility partner DEFENDER nominate the most inspiring adventurers of our time as part of the European Outdoor Film Tour. This year's award goes to Nasim, the modern border crosser and extraordinary woman who lets us participate in overcoming mental, geographical, physical and ideological barriers.
Nasim was a successful kickboxer in Iran for 15 years, but gave up this sport due to the headscarf requirement and has since devoted herself to her new sporting passion, climbing. Even when climbing, she repeatedly broke the social and legal rules and risked consequences from her family and the police. Because of her fight for the rights of the oppressed and for freedom, she is still unable to return to Iran. "It's not about changing your place of residence for an easier life. It's about being in a place that you can improve yourself", she says in an interview in 2021.
Her autobiography, translated from Italian "I was a rock, now I am a mountain: My fight for women's rights in Iran" was published at the end of 2023 - a must-read for anyone who speaks (and reads) Italian.
With the project "When the mountains speak" Nasim is setting an example - the climber is opening new routes and naming them after human rights movements, such as "rise up for human rights" on Mont Blanc and "women-life-freedom" in the Dolomites. As an ambassador for the Italian jewelry brand Pomellato, she is raising public awareness for female empowerment with the #PomellatoForWomen campaign together with celebrities such as Jane Fonda and Joey King.
Nasim is an impressive woman who has made more than 200 female first ascents and over a hundred first ascents and new routes. She has climbed in Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, India and Europe, among other places, and impresses with her skills, passion and dedication. It is therefore not surprising that she has been chosen by brands such as Rab - The Mountain People and DMM are sponsoring her.
Birthday: | March 21, 1982 |
Place of birth: | Tehran, Iran |
Sporting achievements: | Hemedani, Alamkooh Wall, Iran - first free ascent A girl for all season (7b+), Bisotoon Wall, Iran - first free ascent Mr Nobody (8b+) - first free ascent Ms Nobody - first free ascent "Iran_swiss" (8a+) Polekhab Wall Iran - first free ascent by a woman more than 200 further first ascents by a woman more than 100 first ascents and new routes |
Instagram followers: | 23.100 |
