Iranian chess player appears at Kazakhstan tournament without hijab for second day -Reuters witness

ALMATY (Reuters) – For the second day in a row, Iranian chess players entered an international tournament in Kazakhstan without a hijab, according to a Reuters journalist in attendance.

Reuters witnesses at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan saw Sarah Kadem compete without a head scarf.

Iran has held demonstrations against the country’s clerical leaders since mid-September when Martha Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, died in custody of moral police detained for “improper clothing” .

A law mandating the wearing of the compulsory hijab has sparked protests, with a string of sportswomen competing abroad appearing in public without headscarves.

Born in 1997, Kadem, also known as Sarasadat Kademarshalier, is ranked 804th in the world according to the International Chess Federation website. The December 25-30 event website listed her as a participant in both Rapid and Blitz competitions.

Iranian news outlets Habalvarzesi and Etemad said in a report on Monday that Kadem had competed at the championships in Almaty without a hijab.

Reported by Reuters.Edited by Mark Porter

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