Iran: Competitive climber Elnaz Rekabi perhaps imprisoned after competing with out hijab; Tehran phrases it ‘fake news’

An Iranian feminine aggressive climber left South Korea Tuesday after competing at an occasion through which she climbed with out her nation’s necessary headband protecting, authorities stated.

Farsi-language media exterior of Iran warned she could have been pressured to depart early by Iranian officers and will face arrest again dwelling, which Tehran rapidly denied.

The resolution by Elnaz Rekabi, a a number of medalist in competitions, to forgo the headband, or hijab, got here as protests sparked by the September 16 demise in custody of a 22-year-old girl have entered the fifth week. Mahsa Amini was detained by the nation’s morality police over her clothes.

The demonstrations, drawing school-age kids, oil staff and others to the road, signify essentially the most severe problem to Iran’s theocracy for the reason that mass protests surrounding its disputed 2009 presidential election.

Rekabi left Seoul on a Tuesday morning flight, the Iranian Embassy in South Korea stated. The BBC‘s Persian service, which has extensive contacts within Iran despite being banned from operating there, quoted an unnamed “informed source” who described Iranian officials as seizing both Rekabi’s cell phone and passport.

Ms. Elnaz REKABI, departed from Seoul to Iran, early morning of October 18, 2022, together with the opposite members of the Team.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Korea strongly denies all of the pretend, false information and disinformation relating to Ms. Elnaz REKABI. pic.twitter.com/053pFWs96m

— Iran embassy in Seoul (@IraninSKorea) October 18, 2022

BBC Persian additionally stated she initially had been scheduled to return on Wednesday, however her flight apparently had been moved up unexpectedly.

IranWire, one other web site specializing in the nation based by Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari who as soon as was detained by Iran, alleged that Rekabi can be instantly transferred to Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison after arriving within the nation. Evin Prison was the positioning of a large hearth this weekend that killed at the least eight prisoners.

In a tweet, the Iranian Embassy in Seoul denied “all the fake, false news and disinformation” relating to Rekabi’s departure on Tuesday. But as a substitute of posting a photograph of her from the Seoul competitors, it posted a picture of her carrying a scarf at a earlier competitors in Moscow, the place she additionally took a bronze medal.

Calls to the Iranian Embassy in Seoul had been unanswered Tuesday.

A press release from the Iranian Embassy in Seoul says Elnaz Rekabi departed from Seoul to Iran this morning, and it denies “all the fake, false news.”

It comes amid stories she shall be instantly transferred to a jail from the airport after competing and not using a hijab. #ElnazRekabi pic.twitter.com/CbOxCEIspb

— Hyunsu Yim (@hyunsuinseoul) October 18, 2022

Rekabi didn’t placed on a hijab throughout Sunday’s last on the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship, based on the Seoul-based Korea Alpine Federation, the organisers of the occasion.

Federation officers stated Rekabi wore a hijab throughout her preliminary appearances on the one-week climbing occasion. Rekabi was a member of Iran’s 11-member delegation, which contains eight athletes and three coaches, to the occasion, based on the federation.

Federation officers stated they weren’t initially conscious of Rekabi competing with out the hijab however appeared into the case after receiving inquires about her. They stated the occasion doesn’t have any guidelines on requiring feminine athletes carrying or not carrying headscarves. However, Iranian ladies competing overseas below the Iranian flag at all times put on the hijab.

South Korea’s Justice Ministry refused to verify whether or not the Iranian athlete continues to be in South Korea or has left the nation, citing privacy-related rules. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry stated it has no feedback on the difficulty.

Rekabi, 33, has completed on the rostrum 3 times within the Asian Championships, taking one silver and two bronze medals for her efforts.