Sarah Khadim al-Sharia, 25, a female grandmaster, appeared in the World Blitz Chess Championship held in Kazakhstan this week without covering her head, according to press reports.
This step is seen as supporting the protests that have been taking place in Iran since 16 September, following the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, after she was arrested by Tehran’s morality police for not complying with the strict dress code.
“This female player participated freely and at her own expense,” Iranian Chess Federation head Hassan Tamini said, according to Fars news agency. He added: “Khadim Al-Sharia didn’t participate in this tournament through the federation, but he did it independently and created this movement.”
My 33-year-old passengers received a welcome welcome upon her return to Tehran, as scores of people gathered on the Imam Khomeini International Airport campus and greeted her with cheers and cheers as she exited the passenger building. The climber said, in statements to official media shortly after her arrival, that she had mistakenly not worn the hijab.
In November, Iran’s sports ministry criticized Nilufer Mardani’s participation in a roller skating competition in Turkey without a headscarf, stressing that he was not officially representing his country. During recent demonstrations, many male and female athletes have expressed their support for the women’s demands, and some of them have been subjected to measures by the authorities, such as temporary arrest.
