Iranian climber Elnaz Rakabi apologized on Tuesday for showing up without a headscarf at a competition in South Korea.
“I apologize for what I did that bothered you,” Elnaz Rekabi said in an Instagram post.
She explained that she was forced to do so due to the timing of her participation, despite appearing relaxed in the recorded videos of the tournament before hitting the climbing wall. The report stated that she did not “intentionally” wear the hijab.
In the post, she added that she was returning to Iran on a predetermined schedule.
And BBC Persian, citing an informed source, said Iranian authorities confiscated Rikabi’s mobile phone and passport after her return.
And Persian-language media outside of Iran warned that Iranian officials could force the athlete to leave before the tournament ended and she could be arrested in her country, which Tehran was quick to deny.
Source: AB