According to her national federation, the Iranian grandmaster Sara Khademalsharieh, who took part in the rapid chess world championship without a hat, took part in the tournament in Almaty/Kazakhstan on her own accord.
“This chess player took part voluntarily and at her own expense,” Hassan Tamini, chairman of the Chess Federation of Iran, was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.
Asked about the lack of the so-called hijab, Tameni added that he “didn’t expect this chess player to do that because she played in the previous tournaments in accordance with the norms.”
Iranian female athletes are required to adhere to their government’s strict dress code for women. Khademalsharieh’s (25) action was interpreted internationally as a sign of support for the protests that have rocked Iran since Mahsa Amini’s death on September 16.
Amini had been arrested by the vice squad for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
In November, according to local media, Iran reported speed skater Niloufar Mardani after she competed in Turkey without wearing a headscarf. Mardani took part “without permission”, Fars quoted the sports ministry as saying.
In October, climber Elnaz Rekabi competed without a hijab at the Asian Championships in Seoul. She later apologized publicly and spoke of an accident. Critics said she was pressured by the regime.