DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi returned to Tehran early Wednesday after competing in South Korea without carrying a headband, an act extensively seen as assist for anti-government demonstrators amid weeks of protests over the Islamic Republic’s obligatory hijab.
After touchdown, Rekabi gave a cautious, impassive interview to Iran’s hard-line state tv, insisting once more that going without a hijab was an “unintentional” act on her half. However, lots of gathered outdoors Imam Khomeini International Airport — together with girls not carrying the hijab — and cheered for “Elnaz the Champion,” casting Rekabi as a figurehead for his or her continued protests.
Where Rekabi went from the airport stays unclear. Supporters and Farsi-language media outdoors of Iran have apprehensive about Rekabi’s security after her return, particularly as activists say the demonstrations have seen safety forces arrest hundreds thus far.
The split-screen reception for Rekabi reveals the rising fissures in Iranian society as nationwide protests sparked by the Sept. 16 demise of a 22-year-old lady are in their fifth week. Mahsa Amini was detained by the nation’s morality police over her clothes — and her demise has prompted girls to take away their hijabs in public.
The demonstrations, drawing school-age youngsters, oil employees and others to the streets in over 100 cities, symbolize the most-serious problem to Iran’s theocracy for the reason that mass protests surrounding its disputed 2009 presidential election.
That Rekabi, 33, competed without her hijab in Seoul through the finals of the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship prompted her fast embrace by these supporting the demonstrations that more and more embody requires the overthrow of the nation’s theocracy.
But sports activities in Iran, from soccer leagues to Rekabi’s aggressive climbing, broadly function underneath a collection of semi-governmental organizations. Women athletes competing at house or overseas, whether or not enjoying volleyball or working observe, are anticipated to maintain their hair coated as an indication of piety. Iran, in addition to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, make such head coverings obligatory for girls.
That made Rekabi’s public look on Sunday without one a lightning-rod second. On touchdown at Imam Khomeini International Airport early Wednesday, she wore a black baseball cap and a black hoodie overlaying her hair. A person handed her flowers.
At first, Rekabi repeated a proof posted earlier to an Instagram account in her identify, saying her not carrying the hijab was “unintentional.” The Iranian authorities routinely pressures activists at house and overseas, typically airing what rights group describe as coerced confessions on state tv — the identical cameras she addressed on her arrival again house.
Rekabi mentioned she was in a women-only ready space previous to her climb.
“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,” she mentioned.
She added: “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.”
The somber scene then gave strategy to one in all a jubilant crowd outdoors the terminal. Videos on-line, similar to identified options of the airport, present these gathered chanting Rekabi’s identify and calling her a hero. Footage confirmed her waving from inside a van.
Rekabi left Seoul on a Tuesday morning flight. The BBC’s Persian service, which has intensive contacts inside Iran regardless of being banned from working there, quoted an unnamed “informed source” as saying Iranian officers as seized each Rekabi’s cell phone and passport. BBC Persian additionally mentioned 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, prompt that Rekabi may instantly be taken to Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison, the place dissidents are held. An enormous fireplace there over the weekend killed at the least eight prisoners.
The Iranian Embassy in Seoul had denied “all the fake, false news and disinformation” relating to Rekabi’s departure. But as a substitute of posting a photograph of her from the Seoul competitors, it posted a picture of her carrying a headband at a earlier competitors in Moscow, the place she took a bronze medal.
Rekabi wore a hijab throughout her preliminary appearances on the one-week climbing occasion in Seoul. She wore just a black headband when competing Sunday, her darkish hair pulled again in a ponytail; she had a white jersey with Iran’s flag as a brand on it.
Footage of the competitors confirmed Rekabi relaxed as she approached the climbing and after she competed.
The International Federation of Sport Climbing, which oversaw the occasion, mentioned it had been in contact with each Rekabi and Iranian officers, however declined to elaborate on the substance of these calls when reached by The Associated Press. The federation additionally declined to debate Rekabi’s claims about being in a rush to compete.
On Wednesday, a small group of protesters demonstrated in entrance of Iran’s Embassy in Seoul, with some girls reducing off locks of their hair, like others have in demonstrations worldwide since Amini’s demise.
So far, human rights teams estimate that over 200 individuals have been killed in the weekslong protests and the violent safety pressure crackdown that adopted. Iran has not provided a demise toll in weeks. Demonstrations have been seen in over 100 cities, in response to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran. Thousands are believed to have been arrested.
Gathering details about the demonstrations stays troublesome, nonetheless. Internet entry has been disrupted for weeks by the Iranian authorities. Meanwhile, authorities have detained at the least 40 journalists, in response to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Iranian officers, together with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly alleged the nation’s overseas enemies are behind the continued demonstrations, slightly than Iranians angered by Amini’s demise and the nation’s different woes.
Iranians have seen their life financial savings evaporate; the nation’s forex, the rial, plummeted and Tehran’s nuclear take care of world powers has been decreased to tatters.
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Associated Press author Ahn Young-joon in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.
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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.