Daily Times

PARIS: An Iranian climber who caused a sensation by competing at an event abroad without a hijab was on Wednesday given a hero’s welcome on her return to Tehran by supporters who raucously applauded her action. With Iran still shaken by women-led protests over the death of Mahsa Amini one month ago, Elnaz Rekabi flew back to a Tehran airport after the competition in South Korea. In an Instagram post and comments at the airport, Rekabi has apologised over what happened and insisted her hijab — which all Iranian women, including athletes, must wear — had accidentally slipped off. But activists fear her comments were made under pressure from Iranian authorities, who were likely infuriated by her actions. “Elnaz is a hero” and “Well done Elnaz!” chanted dozens of supporters who gathered outside the Imam Khomeini International Airport terminal, clapping their hands and brandishing mobile phones to record the moment. They continued to chant and applaud as a van and vehicle — one of which they presumed was carrying the climber — drove out of the airport through the crowds of people clapping above their heads. It was unclear where she was headed. Some of the women present were themselves not wearing the hijab. “A hero’s welcome — including by women without the forced hijab — outside Tehran… Concerns for her safety remain,” said the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

Inside the airport terminal, Rekabi was greeted by family members with her hair covered with a baseball cap and a hoodie although not a headscarf, before addressing state media with a mask pulled down on her face. “Due to the atmosphere prevailing in the finals of the competition and the unexpected call for me to start my run, I got tangled with my technical equipment and… that caused me to remain unaware of the hijab that I should have observed,” she said. “I returned to Iran peacefully, in perfect health and according to the predetermined plan. I apologise to the people of Iran because of the tensions created,” she said, adding she had “no plan to say goodbye to the national team”. Her comments were similar to those made on Tuesday in an Instagram post, in which she apologised for “concerns” caused and insisted her bare-headed appearance had been “unintentional”. But the Islamic republic has been repeatedly accused by activists of coercing people into making statements of contrition on television or social media. The spokesperson for the UN office of the high commissioner for human rights, Ravina Shamdasani, said the UN was “closely following” the case and concerns were being raised with the Iranian authorities.