Iranian star chess player ‘moving to Spain’ after competing without hijab
Sara Khadem, an Iranian chess player who defied Tehran by playing in a tournament this week without covering her hair, has reportedly decided to move to Spain for fear of reprisals against her if she returns to her country.
Ms Khadem was pictured playing without wearing a hijab on two occasions at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan this week, in an apparent gesture of solidarity with the women-led protest movement against Iran’s regime. She has not yet commented.
According to the Spanish newspaper El País, the 25-year-old Ms Khadem now plans to take up residence in Spain along with her husband, film director Ardeshir Ahmadi, and their young child.
The newspaper quotes sources close to Ms Khadem who say that the couple own an apartment in Spain, but do not wish the location to be revealed over fears for their safety.
“She is aware that her life would be in danger if she returned to Iran because she has been shown playing without a head covering in several photographs,” El País quote the sources as saying.
Ms Khadem, 25, who recently took a break from competition after having her first child, is ranked 804th in the world, according to the International Chess Federation.
She will be aware of the fate of Elnaz Rekabi, a climber who competed abroad without a headscarf in October, and whose family villa was destroyed by authorities in Iran, apparently as a punishment for her actions.
Iran has been swept by demonstrations against the country’s clerical leadership since mid-September, when 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died in the custody of morality police who detained her for “inappropriate attire.”
Laws enforcing mandatory hijab wearing have become a flashpoint during the protests, with a string of sportswomen competing overseas appearing without their headscarves in public.
Ms Khadem has been outspoken on previous occasions, notably when supporting the decision of a fellow young Iranian chess player to defect in protest at having been forced to forfeit matches against Israeli competitors.
Alireza Firouzja, a 19-year-old who is ranked fourth in the world, settled in France and now represents the European country.
In a video, Ms Khadem said she agreed with Mr Firouzja’s stand against Iranian policy of not recognising Israeli opponents and argued that the country would lose more star chess players if it did not change the stance.
