Indian Chess Player Withdraws from International Competitions in Iran Due to Mandatory Hijab

Somiya Swaminathan, an Indian chess player, stated that she has chosen to abstain from participating in international chess competitions in Iran because she would be required to wear a hijab during her stay. She remarked, "This obligation violates human rights." Reports indicate that Ms. Swaminathan had previously written on her Facebook page: "In the current situation, the only way for me to preserve my rights is to refrain from traveling to Iran. In the world of sports, there is no place for mandatory religious attire." The 29-year-old is ranked fifth among Indian chess champions and was preparing for the Asian Championship in Bangladesh. However, after it was announced that Iran would host the tournament, she declared on Facebook that she would not participate. The Asian Nations Chess Championship is set to take place from July 25 for a week in Hamadan. Several activists on social media have praised Ms. Swaminathan's decision. Abhijit Mujumdar, an Indian journalist, tweeted: "If someone is professional and powerful, they don’t need to make excuses or say they are a victim. Just do your job and calmly issue your statement. Bow to the audience, Somiya." Last year, Dorsa Derakhshani, an Iranian chess player, was expelled from the national team for participating without a hijab in the Gibraltar Chess Festival. Afterward, she changed her federation from Iran to the USA. Dorsa has achievements including winning the Asian Youth Chess Championship in 2012 and placing sixth in the World Youth Chess Championship in 2015. Anna Muzychuk, a Ukrainian chess champion, participated in Iran last year wearing a hijab but later refused to compete in Saudi Arabia under mandatory hijab laws. At that time, she wrote on her Facebook: "Should I risk my life and wear an Arab chador the whole time? Everything has its limits, and wearing a headscarf in Iran was enough." Nazi Paikidze, a Georgian-American chess player and champion of the USA, boycotted the World Championship held in Iran last February due to "ethical rules" that prevent contact between men and women in public gatherings.