Elnaz Rekabi, an Iranian climber, has hailed her supporters at home and abroad after returning to a hero’s welcome in Tehran this week after competing abroad sans a hijab.
Rekabi, 33, wore merely a headband during a competition event at the Asian Championships in Seoul last Sunday, violating the Islamic republic’s dress code, which requires all Iranian women, even those competing abroad, to cover themselves with a headscarf.
Some saw the move as a show of solidarity with the weeks of protests in Iran that followed the murder of Mahsa Amini, 22, after her imprisonment in Tehran for allegedly breaching the country’s dress code.
Iranian climber arrived
“I truly thank everyone who came to the airport to greet me, I love you,” Rekabi stated in her first social media post since returning to Iran.
On Wednesday, dozens of people cheered and applauded as the climber arrived at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
So, “Every Iranian, every decent person on earth, an athlete or not, and all of your international supporters are forever grateful to me,” Rekabi wrote on her Instagram account late Friday into Saturday.
Iranian poet
“What I have learned up to this point has been about caring for you wonderful people,” she said in the piece, which publish in Persian and English.
Moreover, Rekabi began the message with a remark from late Iranian poet Ahmad Shamlou, pointing to the existence of individuals as members of a community. “Me; the people, Iran,” she said.
In comments to state media upon her return, the athlete apologized for the event and said her headscarf had accidently slid off.
Rekabi was met by Sports Minister Hamid Sajjadi shortly after her arrival.
Outside rights groups have raised concern about her safety.
