Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi is reportedly missing after she defied the Iranian regime's mandatory hijab rule during a rock climbing competition.
It comes as deadly protests in Iran against state restrictions on women's freedoms enter their fifth week.
Rekabi took the courageous move to disobey the hijab requirement while competing at the International Federation of Sport Climbing's Asian Championships in Seoul on Sunday (local time).
Rekabi came fourth in the competition but it was her powerful statement that made headlines across the world, with many dubbing the move as "inspiring".
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian authorities imposed a mandatory dress code requiring all women to wear a headscarf and loose-fitting clothing in public.
Rekabi's decision to let her hair down during the competition served as an act of solidarity with those protesting back in Iran.
However, the following day BBC Persian reported a source close to Rekabi has not been able to contact her since the competition and that the regime authorities have confiscated her passport and phone.
The hotel where the Iranian team was staying said members had left the hotel on Monday morning (local time) to travel back to Iran where they are expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday (local time), the outlet reported.
The IranWire reported Rekabi will be directly transferred to Evin prison from the airport.
Protests in Iran have entered their fifth week as Iranians, particularly young women, stand against state restrictions on women's freedoms.
The unrest was triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was arrested by Iran's morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.
Iranian celebrities, including artists, filmmakers and athletes, have faced repercussions for publically showing their support for the anti-government protests.
Singer Shervin Hajipour was arrested after his song Baraye in support of the protests went viral, the Business Standard reported.
Iranian soccer manager and former player, Ali Daei, had his passport seized for supporting the protests on social media and two well-known former soccer players, Hossein Mahini and Hamidreza Aliasgari, were arrested and released on bail for "encouraging mass protests".
Mona Borzoui, a songwriter and Mahmoud Shahriari, a former state TV presenter, have also been arrested and face charges.
The Iranian government's brutal pushback against the protests has killed hundreds of people, including children.
However, Iranian authorities have blamed the violence on enemies at home and abroad, including armed separatists and Western powers, accusing them of conspiring against the Islamic Republic and denying that security forces have killed protesters.
