Iranian climber arrives house to hero’s welcome

Elnaz Rekabi, the Iranian climber who competed in a world competitors in South Korea with out sporting a scarf, returned house to a hero’s welcome on Wednesday as her supporters flocked to the airport to greet her.

Amid fears that she had gone lacking, the athlete mentioned on Tuesday her “clothes had an issue by mistake”. The Instagram assertion raised suspicions she had been compelled to distance herself from what the Iranian authorities seen as an act of civil disobedience in assist of protests that swept the nation after a younger girl died in custody after violating the Islamic state’s costume code.

As Rekabi arrived again in Tehran, a crowd that included veteran Iranian climber Abbas Alinejad, chanted “Heroine Elnaz”. Alinejad was heard urging individuals to welcome her “peacefully” with out placing her “in danger”.

“I’m again to Iran completely secure and sound,” the 33-year-old athlete advised state media upon her arrival. “I apologise Iranian individuals due to the tensions and issues I created . . . I had lots of stress however nothing has occurred to this point.”

There had been expectations that the airport gathering would possibly turn into one other protest in opposition to the federal government however the crowd who turned out didn’t begin any anti-regime chants.

Rekabi rejected studies that appeared in Persian-speaking broadcast media abroad saying she had disappeared after competing in Seoul the place she got here fourth on the Worldwide Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Championships. “It’s not true in any respect that there was no information on me for 48 hours. We’re again based on our pre-planned schedule,” she mentioned.

Rekabi defined that she was within the ladies’s part earlier than her match “busy with my technical stuff and sneakers” when she was “unexpectedly” referred to as in to start out her match. “Therefore, I uncared for my hijab and climbed the wall.” She mentioned she would proceed competing in future competitions “and hope to realize extra successes” than this time.

Iranian authorities have blamed celebrities from Iran’s sports activities and movie world for fanning the nationwide protests which have swept via the nation since a 22-year-old Kurdish girl died within the custody of morality police.

Mahsa Amini was arrested final month for allegedly failing to totally observe the hijab. Since her loss of life on September 16, at the least 41 individuals concerned within the protests have died. Amnesty Worldwide has put the variety of deaths at 144, together with 23 youngsters.

Rekabi’s brother advised the Tasmin information company, affiliated to the Revolutionary Guards, on Tuesday that his sister had not violated the Islamic costume code as a result of she was sporting a black headband when she competed. “My sister . . . is a baby of Iran and loves this land,” Davoud Rekabi mentioned.