Elnaz Rekabi, who competed without hijab, returns to cheering crowds in Tehran

Iranian competitive climber Elnaz Rekabi received a hero's welcome on her return to Tehran early Wednesday, after competing in South Korea without wearing a mandatory headscarf required of female athletes from the Islamic Republic.

After landing, Rekabi gave a careful, emotionless interview to Iran's hard-line state television, saying that going without a hijab had been an "unintentional" act on her part. However, hundreds gathered outside Imam Khomeini International Airport including women not wearing the hijab and cheered for "Elnaz the Champion," casting Rekabi as an inspiration for their continued protests.

The future Rekabi faces after returning home remains unclear. Supporters and Farsi-language media outside of Iran have worried about Rekabi's safety after her return, especially as activists say the demonstrations have seen security forces arrest thousands so far.

Later on Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee said it held a joint meeting with the International Federation of Sport Climbing and Iranian officials. The IOC said it received "clear assurances that Ms.Rekabi will not suffer any consequences and will continue to train and compete." However, other athletes have faced harassment amid the demonstrations.

The IOC described Rekabi as being with her family and said she joined a call with officials.

Rekabi offers explanation, describes stress

Rekabi's appearance withoutthe hijab while competing Sunday came amid protests sparked by the Sept. 16 death in custody of a 22-year-old woman that have entered a fifth week. Mahsa Amini was detained by the country's morality police over her clothing and her death has seen women removing their mandatory hijabs in public.

The demonstrations, drawing school-age children, oil workers and others to the street in over 100 cities, represent the most serious challenge to Iran's theocracy since the mass protests surrounding its disputed 2009 presidential election.

That Rekabi, 33, competed without her hijab in Seoul during the finals of the International Federation of Sport Climbing's Asia Championship prompted her immediate embrace by those supporting the demonstrations that increasingly include calls for the overthrow of the country's theocracy.

But sports in Iran, from soccer leagues to Rekabi's competitive climbing, broadly operate under a series of semi-governmental organizations. Women athletes competing at home or abroad, whether playing volleyball or running track, are expected to keep their hair covered as a sign of piety. Iran, as well as Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, make such head coverings mandatory for women.

That made Rekabi's public appearance on Sunday in the final at the Asia Championship a lightning-rod moment. On landing at Imam Khomeini International Airport early Wednesday, she wore a black baseball cap and a black hoodie covering her hair. A man handed her flowers.

Rekabi, upon landing in Iran, repeated an explanation posted earlier to an Instagram account in her name, saying her not wearing the hijab was "unintentional." The Iranian government routinely pressures activists at home and abroad, often airing what rights groups describe as coerced confessions on state television the same cameras she addressed on her arrival back home.

Rekabi said she was in a women-only waiting area prior to her climb.

"Because I was busy putting on my shoes and my gear, it caused me to forget to put on my hijab and then I went to compete," she said.

She went on: "I came back to Iran with peace of mind although I had a lot of tension and stress. But so far, thank God, nothing has happened."

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The sport's federation said it had been in touch with both Rekabi and Iranian officials, but declined to elaborate on the substance of those calls when reached by The Associated Press.

"Our understanding is that she is returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival," the International Federation of Sport Climbing, which oversaw the event, said in a statement. "It is important to stress that athletes' safety is paramount for us and we support any efforts to keep a valued member of our community safe in this situation."

Joly to chair meeting on Iranian women's rights

So far, human rights groups estimate that over 200 people have been killed in the protests over Amini's death and the violent security force crackdown that followed. Iran has not offered a death toll in weeks. Demonstrations have been seen in over 100 cities, according to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran. Thousands are believed to have been arrested.

Gathering information about the demonstrations remains difficult, however. Internet access has been disrupted for weeks by the Iranian government. Meanwhile, authorities have detained at least 40 journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Meanwhile, the Canadian government has announced that Foreign Minister Mlanie Joly will chair a virtual meeting on Thursday involving counterparts from around the world, which will hear from women of Iranian heritage and discuss the state of women's rights in Iran.

"This week, my counterparts and I will gather to send a clear message: the Iranian regime must end all forms of violence and persecution against the Iranian people, including their brutal aggressions against women in particular. Canada will continue to stand by the courageous Iranians who are fighting for their human rights and standing up for their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. Women's rights are human rights."

On Wednesday, a small group of protesters demonstrated in front of Iran's Embassy in Seoul, with some women cutting off locks of their hair, like others have in demonstrations worldwide since Amini's death.