Iranian chess player fled to Spain after threats at home

Sara Khadem received a warning for performing without a hijab at the championship in Kazakhstan

Prominent Iranian chess player Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, or Sara Khadem, arrived in Spain on January 3 after being warned not to return to Iran, according to a source close to her.

Sarah Khadem took part in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship, which took place from 25 to 30 December in Almaty, Kazakhstan. At the end of the tournament, she took 22nd place, gaining 10 points.

Khadem’s performance in Almaty gained notoriety as she played without the hijab, which is mandatory under Iran’s strict dress code. Pictures of the Iranian chess player were published by many international news agencies.

The source, who did not want to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Khadem subsequently received several phone calls warning her against returning home after the tournament while others said she should return, promising to “fix her problem”. “, according to Reuters.

The source also said that Khadem’s relatives and parents in Iran also received threats, but did not provide details.

In this regard, again according to an unnamed source, Sarah Khadem arrived in Spain on January 3. Le Figaro and El Pais previously wrote about this, claiming that Khadem would not return to Iran and would not move to Spain.

According to the source, as a result of phone calls, the organizers of the tournament in Almaty were forced to ensure the safety of the Iranian chess player in cooperation with the Kazakh police, as a result of which four bodyguards were on duty near her hotel room.

According to the website of the International Chess Federation, Khadem ranks 803rd in the world ranking among active chess players and 9th in the national Iranian ranking.

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh was born on March 10, 1997 in Tehran. In 2013 she received the title of international master, and in 2015 – the international grandmaster among women. As part of the Iranian national team, she participated in two Chess Olympiads, in 2012 in Istanbul and in 2014 in Tromsø.

The winner of the FIDE World Championship in rapid chess and blitz, which was held from December 25 to 30 in the Almaty Sports Palace named after Baluan Sholak, among men was the Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, who made a golden double.