An Iranian feminine aggressive climber left South Korea Tuesday after competing at an tournament during which she climbed with out her country’s necessary scarf overlaying, government stated.
Farsi-language media out of doors of Iran warned she will have been pressured to depart early via Iranian officers and may face arrest again house, which Tehran temporarily denied.
The verdict via Elnaz Rekabi, a more than one medalist in competitions, to forgo the headband, or hijab, got here as protests sparked via the September 16 dying in custody of a 22-year-old girl have entered the 5th week. Mahsa Amini was once detained via the rustic’s morality police over her clothes.
The demonstrations, drawing school-age youngsters, oil employees and others to the road, constitute essentially the most critical 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 provider, which has intensive contacts inside of Iran in spite of being banned from running there, quoted an unnamed “knowledgeable supply” who described Iranian officers as seizing each Rekabi’s cell phone and passport.
Ms. Elnaz REKABI, departed from Seoul to Iran, early morning of October 18, 2022, at the side of the opposite individuals of the Staff.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Korea strongly denies all of the faux, false information and disinformation referring to Ms. Elnaz REKABI. percent.twitter.com/053pFWs96m
— Iran embassy in Seoul (@IraninSKorea) October 18, 2022
BBC Persian additionally stated she to start with have been scheduled to go back on Wednesday, however her flight it seems that have been moved up rapidly.
IranWire, some other site that specialize in the rustic based via Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari who as soon as was once detained via Iran, alleged that Rekabi can be right away transferred to Tehran’s infamous Evin Jail after arriving within the nation. Evin Jail was once the website of an enormous fireplace this weekend that killed a minimum of 8 prisoners.
In a tweet, the Iranian Embassy in Seoul denied “all of the faux, false information and disinformation” referring to Rekabi’s departure on Tuesday. However as an alternative of posting a photograph of her from the Seoul festival, it posted a picture of her dressed in a headband at a prior festival in Moscow, the place she additionally took a bronze medal.
Calls to the Iranian Embassy in Seoul have been unanswered Tuesday.
A observation from the Iranian Embassy in Seoul says Elnaz Rekabi departed from Seoul to Iran this morning, and it denies “all of the faux, false information.”
It comes amid studies she might be without delay transferred to a jail from the airport after competing with out a hijab. #ElnazRekabi percent.twitter.com/CbOxCEIspb
— Hyunsu Yim (@hyunsuinseoul) October 18, 2022
Rekabi didn’t placed on a hijab throughout Sunday’s ultimate on the Global Federation of Recreation Mountain climbing’s Asia Championship, consistent with the Seoul-based Korea Alpine Federation, the organisers of the development.
Federation officers stated Rekabi wore a hijab throughout her preliminary appearances on the one-week hiking tournament. Rekabi was once a member of Iran’s 11-member delegation, which accommodates 8 athletes and 3 coaches, to the development, consistent with the federation.
Federation officers stated they weren’t to start with acutely aware of Rekabi competing with out the hijab however seemed into the case after receiving inquires about her. They stated the development doesn’t have any laws on requiring feminine athletes dressed in or now not dressed in headscarves. Then again, Iranian girls competing in another country below the Iranian flag all the time put on the hijab.
South Korea’s Justice Ministry refused to substantiate whether or not the Iranian athlete continues to be in South Korea or has left the rustic, bringing up privacy-related rules. South Korea’s Overseas Ministry stated it has no feedback at the factor.
Rekabi, 33, has completed at the podium 3 times within the Asian Championships, taking one silver and two bronze medals for her efforts.