Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi's safety is in question after she competes without a hijab
Seoul, South Korea - Fears for the safety of Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi are growing after she competed in a tournament in South Korea without a hijab.
The 33-year-old represented Iran at the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship in Seoul on Sunday. She wore her hair in a ponytail with a headband, which violates Iran's strict dress code for women.
Protests against the restrictions following the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini have swept the nation in the past month. Amini was killed on September 13 while in police custody after she was detained for wearing a hijab too loosely.
Supporters of the protests have praised Rekabi for not wearing the hijab while competing, with many calling her a hero.
On Tuesday, however, Rekabi shared an Instagram story in which she apologized for "the worries that I caused."
"Due to bad timing, and the unanticipated call for me to climb the wall, my head covering inadvertently came off," she explained.
Rana Rahimpour, a reporter for BBC Persian, claimed that the statement appeared to be "written under duress."
Fears for Rekabi's safety grow as she returns to Iran
Rekabi's friends told BBC Persian that they had not been able to reach her since Sunday.
Per the Guardian, the athlete flew back to Iran earlier than originally scheduled.
Iran Wire, an anti-regime news site, said that the schedule change was intended to avoid possible protests at the airport.
The Iranian Embassy has denied the "lies and false information" being spread about Rekabi.
Meanwhile, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) said that it has been in contact with the climber as well as the Iranian Climbing Federation.
"It is important to stress that athletes' safety is paramount for us and we support any efforts to keep a valued member of our community safe in this situation," it said, per the BBC.
The IFSC expressed support for "the rights of athletes, their choices, and expression of free speech."
Cover photo: AFP