Iranian woman climber Elnaz Rekabi competes without hijab, amid protests

Farsi-language media outside of Iran warned that she may have been forced to leave early by Iranian officials and could face arrest back home, which Tehran quickly denied.

“An Iranian female competitive climber left South Korea on October 18 after competing at an event in which she climbed without her nation’s mandatory headscarf covering,” authorities said.

Farsi-language media outside of Iran warned that she may have been forced to leave early by Iranian officials and could face arrest back home, which Tehran quickly denied.

The decision by Elnaz Rekabi, a multiple medalist in competitions, to forgo the headscarf, or hijab, came as protests sparked by the September 16 death in custody of a 22-year-old woman have entered a fifth week. Mahsa Amini was detained by the country's morality police over her clothing.

‘Not afraid anymore’: More violence as Iran protests enter fourth week

The demonstrations, drawing school-age children, oil workers and others to the street, represent the most-serious challenge to Iran's theocracy since the mass protests surrounding its disputed 2009 Presidential election.

Elnaz Rekabi left Seoul on a Tuesday morning flight, the Iranian Embassy in South Korea said. The BBC's Persian service, which has extensive contacts within Iran despite being banned from operating there, quoted an unnamed “informed source” who described Iranian officials as seizing both Ms. Rekabi's mobile phone and passport.

BBC Persian also said she initially had been scheduled to return on Wednesday, but her flight apparently had been moved up unexpectedly.