Fear for Elnaz Rekabi's safety after competing without a hijab

Elnaz Rekabi from Iran has been competing actively since 2007 and last year she took the bronze in the Combined World Championship. Last weekend, she was #4 in the Boulder & Lead Championship in South Korea and for the first time in her career, she opted to compete without a hijab. 8a tried to get in contact through her Insta without success. Now The Guardian comes with terrifying news that her friends have been unable to contact her since Sunday.

"The BBC also quoted “well-informed sources” as saying Elnaz Rekabi’s passport and mobile phone had been confiscated before she boarded a plane back to Tehran on Tuesday. The BBC World Service presenter Rana Rahimpour tweeted that “there are concerns about her safety”.

She published an Insta story, with a rather dubious and suspicious explanation, "I firstly apologise for all the concerns I have caused. Due to the timing and sudden call to begin the climb my hijab unintentionally became problematic. I am currently on my way back to Iran alongside the team based on the pre-scheduled timetable."

The IFSC, who has been in contact with Ms Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation, has made an official statement that finshes with, "The IFSC fully support the rights of athletes, their choices, and expression of free speech."