Melika Balali

Melika Balali (Persian:ملیکا بلالی; born 27 December 1999) is an Iranian-born Scottish judoka and wrestler, who won the British championship gold medals. Besides her wrestling career, she is a poet and painter who talks about women's rights in her work.

In July 2022, she became a British champion in freestyle wrestling and protested the compulsory hijab on the first platform, by raising a sign that read, "stop forcing hijab, I have the right to be a wrestler".

She later transitioned to judo after stating that United World Wrestling did not support her participation in international competitions. She currently competes as a judoka with the International Judo Federation (IJF) Refugee Team and is a recipient of the Olympic Refugee Scholarship.

Biography Melika Balali was born on 27 December 1999 in Shahr-e Kord in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, where she was also raised. In childhood, art and literature were her passion. She won the best poster design award at the Made in Arkansas Film Festival, for the short film "Limit" (2017) directed by Javad Dararei.

Judo, peace, and refugee identity After being unable to continue competing internationally in wrestling, Balali transitioned to judo. She joined the International Judo Federation (IJF) Refugee Team and began competing as a judoka in international competitions. She is a recipient of the Olympic Refugee Scholarship, which supports refugee athletes in training and international competition. In interviews with the International Judo Federation, Balali has described herself as an ambassador for peace within the IJF Refugee Team. She has spoken about finding personal freedom, equality, and stability through judo after leaving Iran, contrasting her experiences in Scotland with the restrictions she faced under gender-discriminatory laws in Iran. She has also stated that judo played a significant role in overcoming depression and anxiety during her early years in exile and helped her rebuild social connection and confidence.

Exhibition of ‘The Buds of Exile’ at Millerntor Gallery The painting ‘The Buds of Exile’ was showcased at the Millerntor Gallery in Hamburg, Germany, alongside works by artists from various countries, from July 13 to 16, 2023. Inspired by the resilience of individuals facing exile, particularly Golshifteh Farahani, the piece symbolizes the strength and determination of Iranian women in challenging circumstances, aiming to inspire hope and contemplation among viewers.

Death threats

Balali received death threats in June 2022 after protesting against the compulsory hijab, which resulted in Police Scotland implementing security measures for Balali after an investigation.