Elnaz Rekabi, who competed without hijab, hauled back to Islamic Republic for arrest: report

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A female Iranian climber who competed in a South Korean championship without a hijab has reportedly gone missing and is expected to be placed under arrest upon her return to the Islamic Republic. 

Elnaz Rekabi, who went viral for competing without the Islamic headscarf at the International Federation of Sport Climbing's Asian Championships in Seoul on Sunday, has not been heard from.  

Her friends told the BBC's Persian service, which has extensive contacts within Iran despite being banned from operating there, that they had been unable to contact Rekabi. The outlet quoted an unnamed "informed source" who said Iranian officials seized both Rekabi's phone and passport.

BBC Persian also reported that Rekabi was to be arrested upon her return to the Islamic Republic. 

IRAN ANTI-RIOT POLICE SEXUALLY ASSAULT WOMEN IN PUBLIC AS PROTESTS NEAR ONE-MONTH ANNIVERSARY 

Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi competes during the women's Boulder & Lead final during the IFSC Climbing Asian Championships in Seoul, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022.  (Rhea Khang/International Federation of Sport Climbing via AP)

A later Instagram post on an account attributed to Rekabi said not wearing a hijab was "unintentional," though it wasn't immediately clear whether she wrote the post or what condition she was in at the time. 

The Iranian government routinely pressures activists at home and abroad, often airing what rights group describe as coerced confessions on state television, according to the Associated Press. 

Rekabi, 33, didn’t put on a hijab during Sunday’s final at the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship, according to the Seoul-based Korea Alpine