An Iranian chess player has reportedly participated in an international chess event sans hijab as a sign of solidarity for the ongoing Mahsa Amini protests in her country. Recently several sportswomen from Iran took part in events sans hijab in solidarity with the protest.
Reuters quoting Iranian news outlets Khabarvarzeshi and Etemad reported that Iranian player Sara Khadem competed at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, without the hijab - a headscarf mandatory under Iran's strict dress codes. Photos posted by both outlets appeared to show her with no headscarf during the tournament, the publication reported.
Khabarvarzeshi also posted a photo of her wearing a headscarf but without saying if it was taken at the same event. Khabarvarzeshi is ranked 804 in the world, according to the International Chess Federation website.
Protests have been raging in Iran since the death of a 22-year-old girl Mahsa Amini allegedly in the custody of morality police. Amini was arrested by the force allegedly for not wearing her hijab properly. The protests first focused on the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf, for women, but has since morphed into one of the most serious threats to the Islamic Republic since the chaotic years following its founding.
Iranian authorities have cracked down hard on the protests and accused foreign nations of instigating the protests. According to reports, as many as 507 protesters had been killed including 69 minors.
