On Monday, an Iranian woman chess player competed in an international competition without donning the required head covering. At the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Sara Khadem, an international chess player from Iran, competed without a hijab. Iran has a severe clothing code that requires all women to cover their heads with a hijab. Sara’s action coincides with the ongoing unrest and protests in Iran caused by the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish lady who was 22 years old when she passed away in police custody after being held for “inappropriate dress.”
The only woman from Iran, competing in the competition is Sara Khadem
The International Chess Federation, along with other participants, posted photos from the event in which Sara Khadem could be seen gazing down at the chessboard with her hair hanging loosely around her shoulders. The only Iranian woman competing in the competition is Sara. Sara Khadem, also known as Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, is ranked 804 in the world, according to the International Chess Federation website. Many people interpret Sara’s action as solidarity for Iranian women protesting the hijab. The death of Mahsa Amini and the public support of anti-hijab demonstrations by many other well-known Iranians have strengthened the open opposition to the Iranian regime’s harsh restrictions.
Iranian authorities have clamped down severely on the protests because they consider them to be disturbances organized by foreigners
Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi competed in South Korea in October without a headscarf, later admitting that she had made a mistake. An Iranian archer claimed in November that she did not see her hijab slipping during an awards ceremony in Tehran after a video appeared to show her letting it do so in what was generally believed to be a support for protesters. The national anthem has not been sung by a number of national sports teams, most notably Iran’s football World Cup opening match. Prior to their second and third games, the team sang.
Iranian authorities have clamped down severely on the protests because they consider them to be disturbances organized by foreigners. State officials have stated that up to 300 people have died so far, including security personnel, although there are rumors that the actual number of protestors killed is significantly higher.
