Iranian chess referee spars with governing body over women’s solidarity

GENEVA—Iranian chess umpire Shohreh Bayat says an act of solidarity with her female colleagues at a tournament in Iceland sparked a dispute with the game’s global body and saw her launch a commission.

Bayat wore a “Women, Life, Freedom” T-shirt at a prestigious tournament in October, shortly after protests began in Iran over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody for violating the strict Islamic dress code.

“I don’t think it’s normal to be silent about this,” Bayat, 35, told Reuters in a video interview. She is one of the sports figures who will clash with the authorities over the hijab policy and express solidarity with the anti-government protesters.

“This is a big human rights issue. I think if we remain silent about it, we cannot forgive ourselves,” he added.

Bayat, who has also been accused by Iran of violating hijab practices at tournaments in 2020, said the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had removed him from the arbiter commission after he angered President Arkady Dvorkovich.

The Iranian said Dvorkovich asked him to change his shirt in Iceland, after another chess official raised the issue. He reappeared at the tournament in a yellow coat and blue blouse: the color of the Ukrainian flag.

FIDE confirmed Dvorkovich had asked her not to wear a shirt about women’s rights. The federation said it respected Bayat’s political activities, but he “disregarded the direct instructions given to him not to use slogans or mottos.”

“No matter how noble or uncontroversial the cause, doing activism from that role is inappropriate and unprofessional,” he said in a statement to Reuters.

Tehran views the protesters as pawns of a Western-led push to overthrow the government.

‘A beautiful message’

Bayat accused Dvorkovich, Russia’s deputy prime minister from 2012 to 2018, of losing to geopolitics.

“Iran and Russia are very united in the war against Ukraine,” he said. “When Dvorkovich told me to take off my T-shirt, that must have been the reason.

“My T-shirt is not political … It is one of the best women’s rights messages in the world.”

According to a message seen by Reuters, a senior FIDE official told Bayat that he had been removed from the commission because Dvorkovich was “furious” with him.

Dvorkovich did not respond to a request for comment.

FIDE said it did not discuss any disciplinary action against Bayat and considered him an arbitrator.

Bayat lives in London, fearing for his safety after photos of him at the 2020 tournament in Russia drew criticism in Iranian state media.

Bayat did not agree with the hijab at that time, but she had worn the hijab during the first match of the championship, although it was loose and not visible from some angles in the photo.

Since Iran’s Islamic Revolution, all women have been required to wear the hijab in public, including athletes abroad. Women who violate the dress code can be charged, fined or arrested.

Bayat was awarded the International Women of Courage Award by the United States in 2021 and has since used the platform to advocate for Iranian women.

“If I can, if there is an opportunity, I must raise the voice of the Iranian people,” he said.

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