Female climber Elnaz Rekabi may have been forced to leave South Korea early by Iranian officials and could face arrest back home, Farsi-language media outside of Iran reported.
after arriving in the country. Evin Prison was the site of a massive fire this weekend that killed at least eight prisoners.
The later Instagram post, written in the first person, offered an apology on Rekabi's behalf. The post blamed a sudden call for her to climb the wall in the competition — although footage of the competition showed Rekabi relaxed as she approached and after she competed. It also sought to describe her travel back to Iran on Tuesday as being "on schedule."
"Our understanding is that she is returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival," the International Federation of Sport Climbing, which oversaw the event, said in a statement. "It is important to stress that athletes’ safety is paramount for us and we support any efforts to keep a valued member of our community safe in this situation.
Rekabi, 33, has finished on the podium three times in the Asian Championships, taking one silver and two bronze medals for her efforts. Gathering information about the demonstrations remains difficult, however. Internet access has been disrupted for weeks by the Iranian government. Meanwhile, authorities have detained at least 40 journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Iranian Climber Will Be Jailed After Competing Without a Hijab: ReportAn Iranian climber who competed without wearing a hijab at an international competition is now reportedly set to be jailed.
Read more »
Iranian Climber Elnaz Rekabi—Who Competed Without Headscarf—Explains Decision Amid Concerns For Her SafetyRekabi competed in the finals of a multinational event in South Korea without wearing a hijab, which is mandatory for all Iranian athletes, as anti-government protests continue in Iran.
Read more »
Female athlete represents Iran without hijab at overseas climbing competitionIranian sport climber Elnaz Rekabi was seen competing without a hijab at the International Federation of Sport Climbing's Asian Championships in Seoul on Sunday.
Read more »
Local beer fans, meet Huntsville’s only female head-brewerFrom The Lede: Genna Flynn of GreenBusBrewing, is the only female head-brewer in Huntsville, and one of only a few in all of Alabama.
Read more »