[ad_1]
Chess referee Shohreh Bayat, who fled Iran three years ago, is now being potentially marginalized by the game’s governing body, the International Chess Federation (FIDE), and its president, Arkady Dvorkovich. The problems arose after her clothing choices at a tournament sparked controversy. In 2020, Bayat faced criticism in Iran for not adhering to the country’s headscarf requirement at the Women’s World Chess Championship in China and Russia. This led her to leave Iran out of fear of potential consequences. More recently, Bayat drew the ire of FIDE and Dvorkovich for wearing clothes symbolizing her support for Iranian protests and for the Ukrainian people.
Currently a London resident, Bayat officiated at the 2022 Fischer Random World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland, during a time of widespread protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman died in distressing circumstances, allegedly for not adhering to Iran’s strict dress code, igniting outrage against the regime.
Amid the tournament, Bayat wore a T-shirt bearing the slogan ‘WomanLifeFreedom,’ expressing solidarity for Iranian women. Despite instructions from a FIDE official not to wear it, Bayat continued, insisting she was not violating any dress code for the event. Bayat also donned a blue and yellow outfit in support of Ukrainians combatting the Russian invasion, and to commemorate victims of the 2020 Iranian missile strike on a Ukrainian plane.
However, since the tournament, Bayat claims she has not been invited to referee at other FIDE events, despite being recognized as Europe’s best female arbiter in 2022. Bayat alleges that Dvorkovich’s requests to not wear any slogan while officiating were political, influenced by Russia’s ties with Iran. Bayat says Iran is supporting Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
[ad_2]
