CNN
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A feminine Iranian climber, who didn’t put on a hijab at a world competitors in South Korea, left for Iran on Tuesday as Iranian teams primarily based overseas raised alarms over her destiny again dwelling.
Elnaz Rekabi, 33, competed with out a hijab through the Worldwide Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asian Championships in Seoul on Sunday. Movies of her carrying a scarf along with her hair in a ponytail whereas competing, unfold on social media.
Her return to Iran comes amid nationwide protests in Iran calling for better freedoms for girls, following the demise of a 22-year-old girl who died in police custody after her arrest for allegedly carrying her hijab improperly.
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In a narrative posted on Rekabi’s Instagram web page on Tuesday, the athlete stated she was referred to as to climb the wall “unexpectedly” which “unintentionally” created an issue along with her hair overlaying.
“As a consequence of dangerous timing and unexpectedly being referred to as to climb the wall, I inadvertently created an issue with my head overlaying,” she wrote.
“Apologizing for the concerns that I induced … at the moment, based on the pre-determined schedule I’m returning to Iran with the crew,” the IG story put up stated.
Iran mandates ladies put on a hijab when formally representing the nation overseas.
A information web site essential of the Iranian regime, IranWire, alleged that Rekabi shall be transferred to jail upon arrival, prompting rights teams to fret about what would occur to her.
Amnesty Worldwide stated Monday it was alarmed by the prospect of Rekabi’s return.
“Elnaz Rekabi shouldn’t be forcibly returned to Iran,” Amnesty stated in an announcement, including that “she is at actual threat of arbitrary arrest, torture, and different ill-treatment for violating the authorities’ obligatory veiling guidelines,” Amnesty wrote.
CNN can’t independently confirm experiences of Rekabi being pressured to return to Iran.
The Iranian embassy in Seoul stated that Rekabi departed on Tuesday together with “different members of the crew” and “strongly denied all of the faux, false information and disinformation.”
Within the Twitter put up, the embassy posted an image of Rekabi from earlier video games in Russia the place she was competing carrying the hijab.
“It’s understood that every one members of the Iranian delegation together with Elnaz Rekabi have already left Korea after attending the game occasion,” South Korea’s Overseas Affairs Ministry informed CNN in an announcement.
“The punishment has already began,” director of Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights Mahmood Reza Amiry-Moghaddam informed CNN on Tuesday.
“You already know, the truth that she was incommunicado for one full day…after which she simply wrote this one message on her Instagram. So, the strain on her began already from South Korea,” he stated, “I don’t assume anybody believes in what Iranian authorities say.”
The Worldwide Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) stated it’s “totally conscious of stories” relating to Rekabi and it’s their “understanding” that she is returning to Iran.
“There’s a number of info within the public sphere relating to Ms Rekabi and as an organisation we now have been attempting to ascertain the info. We now have additionally been involved with Ms Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation,” an announcement by the IFSC stated.
“We are going to proceed to watch the state of affairs because it develops on her arrival,” the assertion stated.
In response to an inquiry, the South Korean authorities stated they might not reveal personal info on whether or not an individual has left the nation.
Calls positioned to 2 Iranian crew coaches at the moment in Seoul weren’t answered.
Correction: an earlier model of this story incorrectly acknowledged the day Rekabi was stated to depart Seoul.