"Don't Agree With Street Protests," says an exiled Iranian boxer who is now a climber.

After climber Elnaz Rekabi, who raised controversy by climbing in an international competition sans a headscarf, returned home to applauding supporters, an Iranian female boxer in exile argued that street rallies are not a smart approach for opposing Iran's regime.Three years ago in France, Sadaf Khadem became the first Iranian woman to compete in an official boxing competition, and she hoped to pave the way in the Islamic Republic.

She cancelled her trip back home though after a warrant for her arrest was issued. The 27-year-old has recently relocated to western France, where she has started her own clothes line and is studying business.Rekabi, who has repeated remarks to state media that she climbed without a hijab accidently, has drawn criticism, according to Khadem, who claimed to have been following the situation."Given how strong the Iranian government is, I disagree with the strategy of street protests. They kill and arrest people every day. I worry for their safety. Khadem told Reuters on Wednesday: "I hope it will succeed, but I'm not very confident. I've called for a cyber revolution "instead.

"I am aware that criticising the Iranian government is an extremely risky endeavour. For three years, I kept quiet out of concern for my family's safety."

After Mahsa Amini, who was being held by the morality police of the Islamic Republic, passed away last month, Khadem said she now feels it is her duty to speak out.Amini was arrested for "inappropriate dress," and after she died, women across the country took off and burned their headscarves in protest.Although the turmoil does not seem to be near to toppling the regime, the protests have developed into one of the most audacious threats to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution.Rekabi's circumstance attracted more attention as a result, but Khadem claimed that she was likely shielded by her standing as a national athlete.

According to Khadem, Iranian female athletes had to carry an additional burden.

She claimed that a professional female athlete in Iran experiences constant stress. "I didn't consider boxing until I fought for the first time. I was anxious about going back home. Why is it this way? All we want is to safely lead a regular life."