Sara Khadem, who performed without a hijab in the world championships of rapid chess and rapid chess, became the talk of the games. Women’s clothing has caused a stir in Iran, and Khadem did not return to the country from the tournament.
10:18•Updated 10:29
Iranian female player Sara Khadem, 25, showed up at the World Rapid Chess Championship in Kazakhstan for a match without a hijab, which is against Iran’s dress code. Khadem then confirmed this with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation for NRK (you switch to another service)that he is not going to return to his home country of Iran.
The World Championships ended on December 30. Khadem, who is said to be one of the most promising players in the world, has declined to comment on the reason why she played without a hijab or does not want to return to Iran. In Iran, women are required by law to cover their hair.
Khadem’s family has a house in Spain. She is married to a famous Iranian film director by Ardeshir Ahmad with. The couple has a child born in February. Among other things, a Spanish magazine El Pais’n (you switch to another service) according to the family has headed specifically for Spain after the World Cup.
Playing bareheaded was interpreted as a show of support Mahsa for Amin. A 22-year-old Iranian woman died after being arrested and beaten in a car by Iranian chastity police. Amini was arrested after she broke the law, which requires women to wear a headscarf, among other things.
The death became global news. After the death, both in Iran and in other parts of the world, there have been strong protests against the forced veiling of women.
Khadem could have been punished even for a crime if he had returned to his home country after the World Cup. Religion researcher interviewed by NRK Marianne Hafnor Bö criticizes Iran’s headscarf requirement, but believes that not wearing a headscarf led to Khademi’s decision.
– We have seen several times that the decision-makers have reacted specifically to this. That is probably the reason why he decided not to return to Iran, Bö says in the article.
El Pais says that its sources close to the player said that Ahmadi may never represent Iran again. Ahmadi’s family’s hometown in Spain has not been made public.
At the World Cup, another Iranian-born female player also performed without a scarf covering the head and neck area. Living in the USA and currently representing the country Atousa Pourkashian seen in pictures without accessories. She is a six-time women’s champion of Iran.