Iranian chess player Sara Khadem said she still hopes to represent Iran after competing without a headscarf in an international tournament.
Iran has produced some of the world's best chess players, but some have opted to play for other countries when national decisions began to affect their performance. Alireza Firouzja, 19, now plays for France after her progression was stymied by Iranian authorities not allowing her to play against Israeli rivals.
Now, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, known as Sara Khadem, has fled to Spain after appearing at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, without a headscarf — mandatory wear for women under Iranian law.
Her action was seen by some as a show of support for the protests that have gripped Iran since the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, on September 16. Ms Amini had been arrested by Tehran's morality police for an alleged breach of the country's strict dress code for women.
The chess player, 25, moved to Europe with her husband, film director Ardeshir Ahmadi, and their 10-month-old son Sam early this month.
In an interview published on Sunday in Spanish newspaper El Pais, Khadem said that before the tournament in Almaty she would only wear the hijab “if there were cameras, because I was representing Iran”.
“But with the veil I am not myself, I don't feel well, and therefore I wanted to put an end to that situation. And I decided not to wear it any more,” she said in her first public comments since moving to Spain.
The newspaper said the interview was carried out at a “secret location for security reasons”.
She still wishes to represent Iran internationally, but whether she will be able to is still in question. Other athletes who have express tacit or outright support for the protest movement or chosen not to wear hijab at competitions have suffered consequences at home.
National karate champion Mohammad Mehdi Karami was executed this month — after a hearing lasting only 15 minutes — over the killing of a member of the Basij paramilitary during a protest near Tehran. Iranian Premier League footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani has been sentenced to 16 years in jail for attending a protest.
Khadem said she hoped her relatives in Iran would not “suffer reprisals because if anyone should give explanations for my actions, it is me, not them, since the decision was mine alone”.
Honeymoonish
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
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- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
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- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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