Demonstrations of bravery by athletes such as Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, an Iranian chess player who competed without a hijab, "contribute to a better world", the Spanish Prime Minister said after meeting her on Wednesday.
Pedro Sanchez said he was inspired after his meeting with Ms Khademalsharieh at his official residence, the Moncloa Palace.
Ms Khademalsharieh, 25, who is better known as Sara Khadem, in December took part in the Fide World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, without a headscarf.
She subsequently defected to Spain, where she arrived early this month.
"How much I have learnt today from a woman who inspires me," Prime Minister Sanchez wrote on Twitter.
"All my support to women athletes. Your example contributes to a better world," he added.
In footage provided by the prime minister's office, Ms Khademalsharieh is seen chatting with Mr Sanchez on a couch while wearing a black suit but without a hijab.
They later played a game of chess.
Demonstrations against Iran's clerical leadership have swept the country since mid September when a 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, died while in the custody of the morality police, who had detained her for wearing "inappropriate attire".
Laws enforcing the mandatory wearing of a hijab have become a flashpoint during the unrest, with a string of sportswomen competing overseas appearing in public without headscarves.
In a recent interview with newspaper El País, Ms Khademalsharieh ― who holds the title of Woman Grandmaster ― said she used to wear the headscarf at tournaments only when there were cameras because she was representing Iran.
"With the hijab, I'm not me, I don't feel good, and so I wanted to put an end to that situation," she said. "So I decided not to wear it any more."
Ms Khademalsharieh is ranked 771st in the world, according to the International Chess Federation's website, and ninth in Iran.
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The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
Match info
Karnataka Tuskers 110-3
J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16
Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs
K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Results
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson
5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri
5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The%20specs
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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The five pillars of Islam
Specs%20
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What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
