The president of Iran's national Olympic committee said Thursday that Elnaz Rekabi will not be punished or suspended after competing in South Korea without wearing her nation's compulsory headscarf.
The supporters of Rekabi are worried because other athletes have been targeted by the government for their support of the protests. According to activists, security forces have killed over 200 people and arrested thousands in the past year.
Rekabi didn't wear a headscarf because she didn't want to offend anyone, but there was no reason to take action against her.
The decision was described as "unintentional" by an account associated with Rekabi. A video of her climb appeared to show her relaxed and waving to the crowd, but she blamed being rushed to compete.
It's not a big deal. Despite protests over the mandatory hijab reaching more than 100 cities in Iran, it is being discussed a lot. It wasn't a big issue, in our opinion.
The president of the Association of National Olympic Committees discussed Rekabi with the president of the IOC. He talked to Rekabi as well.
"I talked to her and told her that she is very talented in sports and that she should try to qualify for the Paris Olympics and that the Iranian Olympic committee will support her," Vafa said in a statement.
Rekabi came back to Iran safely and with her family, according to the IOC.
Rekabi was a guest at the Iranian Olympic committee hotel with her family. It was not clear if Rekabi had a decision to make. The Iranian state media published an image of her in a meeting hours after she returned to Tehran.
Rekabi is going back to her hometown.
Rekabi's passport was taken by Iranian authorities after the event in South Korea and she was forced to leave.
Protesters seized on the fact that Rekabi wasn't wearing the hijab while competing. Hundreds of people gathered outside the airport to welcome Elnaz and cheer her on as she arrived.
Robin Mitchell, the new president of the Association of National Olympic Committees, was asked if he discussed the issue with the Iranians.
The death of a young woman in Iran has led to nationwide protests.
The demonstrations, which have prompted women to remove their hijabs in public, have drawn school-age children, oil workers and others to the streets and represent the most serious challenge to Iran's theocracy since the mass protests surrounding its presidential election.
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