Skip to main content

Iranian chess player who competed without headscarf defects to Spain

One of Iran’s top-ranked female chess players, Sara Khadem, is planning to settle in Spain after taking part in an international tournament in Kazakhstan without a headscarf.


The 25-year-old player has become the latest sportswomen to defy Iran’s strict dress code since anti-government protests began in September, following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the “morality police”.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.