Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat says a gesture of solidarity with female compatriots at a tournament in Iceland has caused a feud with the game's global body and seen her kicked off a commission. Bayat wore a "Women, Life, Freedom" T-shirt at a prestigious tournament in October, soon after protests began in Iran over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody for breaking strict Islamic dress code.

"I don't think it's normal to stay quiet about this," Bayat, 35, told Reuters in a video interview. She is among a string of sports figures to clash with authorities over the hijab policy and express solidarity with anti-government demonstrators. "This is a big human rights matter. I think if we stay quiet about these things, we cannot forgive ourselves," she added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-was-siddharth-sharma-know-about-the-himachal-pacer-who-died-aged-28-due-to-breathing-issues-552550">Who was Siddharth Sharma? Know about the Himachal pacer who died aged 28 due to breathing issues</a>

Bayat, who was also accused by Iran of violating hijab practice at a tournament in 2020, said the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had removed her from its arbiters' commission after she angered its President Arkady Dvorkovich.

The Iranian said Dvorkovich asked her to change her attire in Iceland, after another chess official had raised the issue. She reappeared at the tournament in a yellow suit and blue blouse: the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

FIDE confirmed Dvorkovich had requested she not wear the shirt about women's rights. The federation said it respected Bayat's political activities but that she "disregarded direct instructions given to her to stop wearing slogans or mottos."

"No matter how noble or uncontroversial the cause is, doing activism from that role is inappropriate and unprofessional," it said in a statement to Reuters.

Tehran casts the protesters as pawns of a Western-led push to overthrow the government.

Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat says a gesture of solidarity with female compatriots at a tournament in Iceland has caused a feud with the game's global body and seen her kicked off a commission.

Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat says a gesture of solidarity with female compatriots at a tournament in Iceland has caused a feud with the game's global body and seen her kicked off a commission. Bayat wore a "Women, Life, Freedom" T-shirt at a prestigious tournament in October, soon after protests began in Iran over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody for breaking strict Islamic dress code. "I don't think it's normal to stay quiet about this," Bayat, 35, told Reuters in a video interview. She is among a string of sports figures to clash with authorities over the hijab policy and express solidarity with anti-government demonstrators. "This is a big human rights matter. I think if we stay quiet about these things, we cannot forgive ourselves," she added. ALSO READ: Who was Siddharth Sharma? Know about the Himachal pacer who died aged 28 due to breathing issues Bayat, who was also accused by Iran of violating hijab practice at a tournament in 2020, said the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had removed her from its arbiters' commission after she angered its President Arkady Dvorkovich. The Iranian said Dvorkovich asked her to change her attire in Iceland, after another chess official had raised the issue. She reappeared at the tournament in a yellow suit and blue blouse: the colours of the Ukrainian flag. FIDE confirmed Dvorkovich had requested she not wear the shirt about women's rights. The federation said it respected Bayat's political activities but that she "disregarded direct instructions given to her to stop wearing slogans or mottos." "No matter how noble or uncontroversial the cause is, doing activism from that role is inappropriate and unprofessional," it said in a statement to Reuters. Tehran casts the protesters as pawns of a Western-led push to overthrow the government.

'I don't think it's normal to stay quiet about this,' - Shohreh Bayat expresses solidarity in protests vs Govt

The Iranian chess star who stoked a controversy by competing in an international event without the mandatory headscarf (hijab) has decided to move to Spain in fear of reprisal from the Islamic regime, according to local media reports.

Earlier this week, Sara Khadem, 25, participated in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Kazakhstan without a hijab, which led the authorities to perceive her action as a show of support for women and anti-regime protesters in her home country.

Spanish newspaper El País on Thursday reported, quoting sources, that the 25-year-old is planning to reside in Spain with her husband, Ardeshir Ahmadi—who is a film director—and their young child.

The couple owns an apartment in Spain, but their location was not revealed over fears of their safety, sources&nbsp;close to Khadem told the newspaper.

“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,” the sources were quoted as saying.

<h2>Iranian chess players Sara Khadem, Atousa Pourkashiyan abandon hijab while playing</h2>

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This isn’t the first that time a sportsperson has voiced their opinion against the regime over the protests against the hijab rule and the establishment. But the authorities have tried hard to suppress their voices, with many either trying to leave the country or be penalised.

In October, a climber who competed abroad without a headscarf in October, Elnaz Rekabi, was hounded by the officials for her actions.

She was then forced to issue an apology in which she claimed that her not wearing a hijab when competing had been accidental.

Similarly, the family of Iranian football legend Ali Daei was prevented from leaving the country. Their flight was made to land on an Iranian island in the Gulf and they were removed.

The 53-year-old, who has voiced support for anti-government protests, said his family had tried to fly from Tehran to Dubai to join him on holiday on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Iranian chess star who stoked a controversy by competing in an international event without the mandatory headscarf (hijab) has decided to move to Spain in fear of reprisal from the Islamic regime, according to local media reports.

The Iranian chess star who stoked a controversy by competing in an international event without the mandatory headscarf (hijab) has decided to move to Spain in fear of reprisal from the Islamic regime, according to local media reports. Earlier this week, Sara Khadem, 25, participated in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Kazakhstan without a hijab, which led the authorities to perceive her action as a show of support for women and anti-regime protesters in her home country. Spanish newspaper El País on Thursday reported, quoting sources, that the 25-year-old is planning to reside in Spain with her husband, Ardeshir Ahmadi—who is a film director—and their young child. The couple owns an apartment in Spain, but their location was not revealed over fears of their safety, sources close to Khadem told the newspaper. “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,” the sources were quoted as saying. Iranian chess players Sara Khadem, Atousa Pourkashiyan abandon hijab while playing This isn’t the first that time a sportsperson has voiced their opinion against the regime over the protests against the hijab rule and the establishment. But the authorities have tried hard to suppress their voices, with many either trying to leave the country or be penalised. In October, a climber who competed abroad without a headscarf in October, Elnaz Rekabi, was hounded by the officials for her actions. She was then forced to issue an apology in which she claimed that her not wearing a hijab when competing had been accidental. Similarly, the family of Iranian football legend Ali Daei was prevented from leaving the country. Their flight was made to land on an Iranian island in the Gulf and they were removed. The 53-year-old, who has voiced support for anti-government protests, said his family had tried to fly from Tehran to Dubai to join him on holiday on Monday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Iranian chess player who competed without hijab fleeing to Spain over security fears: Report

An Iranian chess referee who got accused of violating her country's Islamic dress code while making the decision of a women's tournament said she did not want to return home from Russia out of fear for her safety.

After getting accused of violating Islamic dress code, Iranian chess referee refused to go home