An Iranian female climber has been received by jubilant crowds in Tehran after competing in South Korea without a hijab as required of female athletes from the Islamic Republic.
The climber, Elnaz Rekabi, was welcomed on Wednesday October 19, by crowds at the Imam Khomeini international airport outside Tehran.
Mid-September, protests had ensued in Iran over the death of one Mahsa Amini who had died in police custody after being arrested for wearing her hijab halfway.
Friends and family raised concerns over Rekabi’s safety, as she returned to the country.
The female climber, after arriving at the airport where she received gifts, flowers and cheers by onlookers clarified that her competition without a hijab was unintentional.
She arrived at the airport wearing a black baseball cap and a black hoodie covering her hair
“Because I was busy putting on my shoes and my gear, it caused me to forget to put on my hijab and then I went to compete,”
“I came back to Iran with peace of mind although I had a lot of tension and stress. But so far, thank God, nothing has happened.” Rekabi stated.
The International Federation of Sport Climbing in a statement said they were monitoring Rekabi’s situation upon her return to Iran.
“Our understanding is that she is returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival” the statement read.
Also Read: Five people killed in Iran in protests over death of woman in police custody
Related: Internet Blackouts in Iran Following Protests Over ‘Iranian Morality Police’ Doings.