An Iranian mountaineer who caused a stir by taking part in an event abroad without wearing a headscarf was greeted as a heroine on her return to Tehran on Wednesday by supporters who applauded her action enthusiastically.

While Iran was still reeling from women-led protests over the death of Mahsa Amini a month ago, Elnaz Rekabi flew back to an airport in Tehran after the competition in South Korea.

In an Instagram post and comments at the airport, Rekabi apologized for what happened and insisted her hijab – which all Iranian women, including athletes, are required to wear – accidentally slipped down.

However, activists fear her comments were made under duress and under pressure from the Iranian authorities, who were likely furious at her actions.

“Elnaz is a hero,” chanted dozens of supporters who gathered outside the Imam Khomeini International Airport terminal, clapping hands and waving cell phones to capture the moment.

They continued to sing and applaud as a van and vehicle – which they assumed was carrying the climber – pulled out of the airport through a sea of ??people clapping overhead.

It was unclear where she was going. Some of the women present were not wearing hijab themselves.

“A heroic reception – also from women without compulsory hijab – in front of Tehran airport for the professional climber Elnaz Rekabi. Concerns for their safety remain,” said the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

Inside the airport terminal, Rekabi was greeted by family members in a black hoodie and baseball cap before addressing state media with a mask pulled down.

“Due to the atmosphere prevailing in the final of the competition and the unexpected request to start my run, I got tangled up with my technical equipment and … this resulted in me not noticing the hijab, which I should have heeded. ” She said.

“I returned to Iran peacefully, in good health and according to the plan. I apologize to the Iranian people for the tensions created,” she said, adding that she had “no plan to say goodbye to the national team.”

Her comments were similar to those made in an Instagram post on Tuesday, in which she apologized for “concerns” and insisted her bareheaded appearance was “unintentional.”

But the Islamic Republic has been repeatedly accused by activists of forcing people to make declarations of repentance on TV or on social media.

British actress of Iranian origin Nazanin Boniadi, who is Amnesty International’s ambassador to the UK, tweeted that it was clear that Rekabi was “compelled to testify by authorities who constantly use coerced and televised confessions”.

Observers “should not be swayed by state propaganda,” CHRI said.

According to unconfirmed reports, she had already been pressured by Iranian officials in South Korea.

BBC Persian quoted an unnamed source as saying friends could not reach them and the team left their Seoul hotel on Monday, two days before their scheduled departure date.

Meanwhile, news website Iran Wire said the head of the Iranian Climbing Association “tricked” her into entering the Iranian embassy in Seoul, and the association head promised her a safe trip to Iran if she handed over her cellphone and passport.

However, the Iranian embassy in Seoul issued a statement to AFP denying “all the fake, false news and disinformation” about their situation.

The spokeswoman for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, said the UN was “closely following the case” and raised concerns with the Iranian authorities.

The incident happened at the Asian Sport Climbing Championships in Seoul on Sunday.

In the first bouldering discipline, her head was covered with a bandana, but in later lead climbing, scaling a high wall with a rope, she only wore a headband, according to the stream published by the International Federation of Sport Climbing.