Iranian official says sport climber who competed without headscarf won't be punished

The president of Iran’s national Olympic committee claimed that an Iranian competitive climber who had participated in an event without wearing her country’s mandatory headscarf will not be penalised.

In the South Korean capital of Seoul, Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa said there was no reason to take disciplinary measures against 33-year-old competitive climber Elnaz Rekabi, because not wearing a headscarf, or hijab, was an "unintentional" act on her part.

Rekabi returned to Tehran after competing at the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship in South Korea without wearing a hijab, which is required of female athletes from the Islamic Republic.

Rekabi, 33, was met at Imam Khomeini International Airport by people cheering and shouting, "Hero!" in her taxi as she rode through the massive crowds around 5 a.m.

Following the event, an Instagram account associated with Rekabi also described the decision as "unintentional," adding that she is doing well after reaching Tehran.

"I talked to her and told her that you definitely are very talented in sports and you should continue down this path to maybe qualify for the Paris Olympics, and you’ll be fully supported by the Iranian Olympic committee," he added.

Rekabi’s supporters remain concerned about potential retribution against Rekabi after deadly clashes between Iranian protesters and the government have broken out in recent weeks.