CNN
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A woman Iranian rock climberwho competed without a hijab at an international competition in South Korea, took to social media to thank her supporters – amid conflicting reports about whether she Is he under house arrest?
“I am so grateful for your support, all of you Iranthe kindest people on the planet, athletes and non-athletes, and all your support in [the] international community,” Elnaz Rekabi wrote on Instagram late Friday.
Along with a photo of herself climbing a mountain – in which she appears as a silhouette, floating in the air – she added, “What I got to this day is in regards to taking care of myself. take care of your beautiful souls; and the future won’t be a road without obstacles if you don’t go along. ”
Videos posted on social media show Rekabi being greeted by a chanting crowd “Hero Elnaz” as she returned to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday morning.
Her return to Iran comes amid nationwide protests calling for greater freedoms for women, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a woman who died in police custody after when he was arrested for allegedly wearing a headscarf improperly.
As a result, some protesters see her as a symbol of justice, and human rights groups have expressed concern about what will happen to her when she returns to Iran. A news website critical of the Iranian regime, IranWire, has announced that Rekabi will be sent to prison when she returns to the country.
Rekabi herself has suggested – both on her Instagram account and in interviews with state media IRNA – that she just “accidentally” competed without a headscarf, which Iran mandates. Women representing the country abroad must wear.
However, it is unclear whether Rekabi’s comment was coerced.
Her latest comments on Instagram came as the head of Iran’s mountaineering and sport climbing federation denied that Rekabi was under house arrest.
Speaking to Iran’s government-affiliated Borna News Agency, Reza Zarei said Rekabi “is currently staying with her family”.
Zarei also denied rumors that he had received checks or property papers from Rekabi or any other athletes competing at the Asian Championships.
Borna news agency is affiliated with Iran’s Ministry of Sports and Youth.
CNN was unable to independently verify whether Rekabi is under house arrest.
Meanwhile, Iran responded on Friday to Canada’s sanctions targeting Iranian broadcasters, describing them as a “nonsense”.
Canada said this month it would impose additional sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities that have engaged in or perpetuated human rights abuses.
It said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its top leaders – more than 10,000 officers and senior members – will now be barred from entering Canada “for their participation in terrorism and violations of the law”. systematic and serious human rights”.
According to Nasser Kanani, spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, the latest Canadian sanctions include Tasnim News Agency, Kihan Newspaper, Noor News and Fars News Agency.
Kanani wrote on Instagram that such sanctions show “the absurdity of Western slogans regarding the right to free access to information and freedom of expression.”
Kanani added, “The US government’s sanction frenzy went viral and quickly spread to their friends.”
