Iranian rock climber arrives back in Tehran after competing without hijab - CNN

CNN  — 

A pistillate Iranian stone climber, who did not deterioration a hijab astatine an planetary contention successful South Korea, has returned to Iran arsenic Iranian groups based overseas raised alarms implicit her destiny backmost home.

Elnaz Rekabi, 33, competed without a hijab during the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asian Championships successful Seoul connected Sunday. Videos of her wearing a headband with her hairsbreadth successful a ponytail portion competing dispersed connected societal media.

Rekabi arrived successful Tehran aboriginal connected Wednesday morning, authorities media IRNA reported. Videos posted to societal media amusement her arriving astatine the capital’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. She was besides seen speaking to media.

More videos posted to societal media appeared to amusement crowds gathered some wrong and extracurricular of the airport, chanting “Elnaz the hero.”

It is unclear whether Rekabi is nether detention oregon if she volition look repercussions.

Her instrumentality to Iran comes amid nationwide protests successful the state calling for greater freedoms for women, following the decease of a 22-year-old pistillate who died successful constabulary custody aft her apprehension for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly.

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In a communicative posted connected Rekabi’s Instagram leafage connected Tuesday, the jock said she was called to ascent the partition “unexpectedly” which “unintentionally” created a occupation with her hairsbreadth covering.

“Due to atrocious timing and unexpectedly being called to ascent the wall, I inadvertently created a occupation with my caput covering,” she wrote.

“Apologizing for the worries that I caused … currently, according to the pre-determined docket I americium returning to Iran with the team,” the IG communicative station said.

Iran mandates women deterioration a hijab erstwhile officially representing the state abroad.

A quality website captious of the Iranian regime, IranWire, alleged that Rekabi volition beryllium transferred to situation upon arrival, prompting rights groups to interest astir what would hap to her.

Amnesty International said Monday it was alarmed by the imaginable of Rekabi’s return.

“Elnaz Rekabi should not beryllium forcibly returned to Iran,” Amnesty said successful a statement, adding that “she is astatine existent hazard of arbitrary arrest, torture, and different ill-treatment for violating the authorities’ compulsory veiling rules,” Amnesty wrote.

CNN cannot independently verify reports of Rekabi being forced to instrumentality to Iran.

The Iranian embassy successful Seoul said that Rekabi departed connected Tuesday on with “other members of the team” and “strongly denied each the fake, mendacious quality and disinformation.”

In the Twitter post, the embassy posted a representation of Rekabi from erstwhile games successful Russia wherever she was competing wearing the hijab.

“It is understood that each members of the Iranian delegation including Elnaz Rekabi person already near Korea aft attending the athletics event,” South Korea’s Foreign Affairs Ministry told CNN successful a statement.

“The punishment has already started,” manager of Norway-based rights radical Iran Human Rights Mahmood Reza Amiry-Moghaddam told CNN connected Tuesday.

“You know, the information that she was incommunicado for 1 afloat day…and past she conscionable wrote this 1 connection connected her Instagram. So, the unit connected her started already from South Korea,” helium said, “I don’t deliberation anyone believes successful what Iranian authorities say.”

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) said it’s “fully alert of news” regarding Rekabi and it’s their “understanding” that she is returning to Iran.

“There is simply a batch of accusation successful the nationalist sphere regarding Ms Rekabi and arsenic an organisation we person been trying to found the facts. We person besides been successful interaction with Ms Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation,” a connection by the IFSC said.

“We volition proceed to show the concern arsenic it develops connected her arrival,” the connection said.

Calls placed to 2 Iranian squad coaches presently successful Seoul were not answered.

Correction: an earlier mentation of this communicative incorrectly stated the time Rekabi was said to depart Seoul.