Iran Olympic chief says no punishment coming for Elnaz Rekabi, however concern stays

SEOUL, South Korea — The president of Iran’s nationwide Olympic committee stated Thursday that aggressive climber Elnaz Rekabi won’t be punished or suspended after competing in South Korea over the weekend with out sporting her nation’s necessary headband.

Supporters of Rekabi, nonetheless, stay fearful for the 33-year-old climber as different athletes have been focused by the federal government for supporting the weekslong protests rocking Iran. Activists say safety forces have killed over 200 folks and arrested hundreds in an ongoing crackdown on dissent.

Chatting with The Related Press in Seoul, Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa stated there was no purpose to take disciplinary measures in opposition to Rekabi as a result of not sporting a headband, or hijab, was an “unintentional” act on her half.

An Instagram account related to Rekabi additionally described the choice as “unintentional,” and she or he did as effectively after reaching Tehran early Wednesday. She blamed being rushed to compete, although a video of her climb Sunday appeared to point out her relaxed and waving to the gang.

“It is a small problem. I am stunned that it’s being talked about a lot,” Khosravi Vafa stated, regardless of protests over the necessary hijab reaching greater than 100 cities in Iran. “In our view it was not a giant problem.”

Khosravi Vafa stated he mentioned Rekabi with Worldwide Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Affiliation of Nationwide Olympic Committees Normal Meeting in Seoul. Khosravi Vafa stated he spoke to Rekabi as effectively.

“I talked to her and informed her that you simply undoubtedly are very proficient in sports activities and it is best to proceed down this path to perhaps qualify for the Paris Olympics and you will be absolutely supported by the Iranian Olympic committee,” Khosravi Vafa stated in remarks made in Farsi.

The IOC described Rekabi on Wednesday as having “returned to Iran safely and together with her household.”

Khosravi Vafa, nonetheless, described Rekabi as being “a visitor at Iran’s Olympic committee resort for sooner or later, alongside together with her household.” It wasn’t clear if Rekabi had a selection over the keep. A picture revealed by Iranian state media confirmed her in a gathering hours after returning to Tehran in the identical black baseball cap and hoodie she wore after her flights.

Rekabi is returning to her hometown Thursday, Khosravi Vafa stated.

Khosravi Vafa did not particularly tackle suspicions that Iranian authorities confiscated Rekabi’s passport after the occasion in Seoul and compelled her to depart early.

Rekabi’s competing whereas not sporting the hijab was seized on by demonstrators who’ve protested for weeks within the Islamic Republic. A whole lot of individuals gathered outdoors Imam Khomeini Worldwide Airport for her arrival and cheered a lady they known as “Elnaz the Champion” and noticed as an inspiration for his or her continued protests.

Requested whether or not he mentioned the difficulty with Iranian delegates, Robin Mitchell, a Fijian sports activities official who was elected the brand new president of the Affiliation of Nationwide Olympic Committees on the meeting Thursday, stated they’d not spoken and indicated he wasn’t conscious the Iranians had been on the conferences.

Iran has been swept by nationwide protests for the reason that Sept. 16 demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the nation’s morality police over her clothes.

The demonstrations, which have prompted ladies to take away their hijabs in public, have drawn school-age youngsters, oil employees and others to the streets and symbolize essentially the most critical problem to Iran’s theocracy for the reason that mass protests surrounding its disputed 2009 presidential election.