The Federation Calls The Faculty Of Women, Khademalsharieh, Competing Without A Jilbab, Not Deputy For Iran

Iranian chess player Sarasadat Khademalsharieh. (Twitter/@kasparovchess/FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova)

JAKARTA - Sarasadat Speaker Khademalsharieh did not represent his country, when he competed in international competitions in Kazakhstan without a headscarf, Iran's chief chess federation said.

Hassan Tamini said, "These speakers participate freely and at their own expense" without going through the federation, Fars' half-official news agency reported, as quoted by The National News December 30.

"We didn't expect the chess player to do this, because he had participated in previous tournaments according to standards," said Tamini.

Khademalsharieh (25) took part in the International Chess Federation World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan

The event participants said Khademalsharieh was present on the second day of the event, and was not wearing a headscarf.

Reports suggest he will not return home at the end of the tournament, but plans to stay in Spain with his husband and son, according to El Pa layus newspaper.

She is ranked No. 804 in the world, the International Catur Federation website shows. Images of women's grandmaster profiles on the federation's website show she is wearing a dark blue veil that doesn't cover her entire hair.

It is known that women participating in international competitions on behalf of Iran are required to wear headscarves and comply with dress codes.

Last month, Iran criticized the speed skater Niloufar Mardani, after he took part in a competition in Turkey without a headscarf. Mardani participated without permission, Iran's Ministry of Sports was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.

In October, rock climbing athlete Elnaz Rekabi only wore a headband at the Asian Championships in Seoul. He apologized for the incident and told state media his hijab was released accidentally.

Two months later, it was reported that Iranian authorities destroyed the Rekabi family home due to "unauthorized land development and use".

Earlier, mass protests broke out in Iran and have entered the third month after the death of Kurdish-Iranese woman Mahsa Amini, 22, in police custody. He was arrested by the morality police for violating the country's dress code.

Sports have been a sensitive arena during the protests, with some leading female athletes and male footballers expressing their support.

Much earlier In 2020, an Iranian chess referee said he was afraid to return home after adjudicating a women's tournament without wearing a headscarf.

Sholeh Bayat, 34, said he would not return to Iran unless he was given a written security guarantee from the country's chess federation.

"I really hope they will give me something to make sure I will be safe if I return to Iran," he said at the time.

"But if that doesn't happen, I'm just checking my options and considering anything."

His Twitter profile says he lives in London and includes a photo of himself without a headscarf. He described himself as a refugee and a "human rights defender".