The Iranian embassy in South Korea reported that the climber Elnaz Rekabi, who competed without a veil in Seoul this weekend in apparent protest against the Ayatollah regime, traveled to the city of Tehran with members of her country’s delegation and that in no moment she was missing.
The announcement came after the rumors that went around the world about the disappearance of the athlete after competing without the mandatory garment for all Iranian women.
“Ms. Elnaz Rekabi, who participated in the final round of the Asian Climbing Championships, left Seoul for Iran early today, October 18, 2022, along with other members of her team,” they assured from the embassy.
The climber’s gesture was seen as a brave show of support for the women of her country who have been protesting for weeks against the obligation to wear the veil after the death in September of the young Mahsa Amini in a police station to which she was taken for wearing the handkerchief inappropriately.
Rekabi’s post on Instagram
The news that alarmed after her participation came from the British BBC and indicated that Rekabi’s passport and cell phone had been taken from her and that no one has been able to contact her since Sunday.
Consequently, the Iranian embassy in Seoul said in its statement that it “denies all false news and misinformation” related to the 33-year-old athlete.
But the version that Rekabi does not have her cell phone called into question the post that appeared early Tuesday on the account of Instagram of the athlete. According to the translations of the published story, the Iranian apologized for what happened during the competition and explained: “I apologize for the concerns I caused. Because my turn to climb came earlier than expected, my veil fell off. without my noticing it. I am currently returning to Iran with the team, according to the planned schedule.”
The possibility of arrest
Meanwhile, and despite the fact that there is no official confirmation, Iranian media reported that Rekabi will be sent to prison for not respecting the law that states the mandatory use of the veil.
“Rekabi was returned to her country to be taken to Evin prison in Tehran under the order of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the news website said. Iran Wire.
In addition, the same media noted: “Reza Zarei, the head of the Iranian Climbing Federation, tricked her into entering the Iranian embassy building in Seoul after receiving orders from Mohammad Khosravivafa, president of the Iranian Olympic Committee.” .
Although the news that she is not missing relieved the world, the competitor still did not speak or any image of the young woman was known after competing.
Protests in Iran
For a month, the Middle Eastern country has been experiencing an escalation of aggression towards women who began to protest to demand equal rights, as well as to stop the mandatory use of the hijab the fleece.
The last report of the NGO Iran Human Rights points out that there are already 108 people who have died due to police repression and there are thousands of detainees.
“We are alarmed by the killing by security forces. According to reliable reports, some children were shot with ammunition, while another died as a result of beatings,” said the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
These protests are related to the death of the young Mahsa Amini in a police station where she had been taken for wearing the veil inappropriately. Since then there have been various demonstrations that toured the world.
Since 1983 and according to the Penal Code, women who do not use the hijab They will receive prison sentences and fines.