Top female chess players across the world have come together to criticise the World Chess Federation, popularly known as FIDE, for choosing Iran as the host of the 2017 World Championships. The criticism stems primarily from Iran's strict dress code for women, which is applicable to outsiders as well as locals.
It is compulsory for all women in Iran to wear the Islamic hijab, which means the female chess players would also be required to wear the hijab during the event. Failure to do so could even result in them getting arrested.
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According to a report by The Telegraph, several top players including Nazi Paikidze have made their comments public, raising concerns with respect to women’s security. Not only have they questioned the demand of wearing the hijab, women players have also said that they would boycott the championship should FIDE fail to act upon this controversy and stand up for women’s rights.
In what can be described as a shocking reaction, FIDE’s Commission for Women's Chess has asked chess players to respect the culture of the land. The hijab, in Iran, has been compulsory for women in public since the late 1970s, and any violation of the same makes the “offenders” liable for arrest and punishment.
The players have responded quite strongly to the decision to pick Iran as the host country, calling it atrocious and upsetting.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to host one of the most important women's tournaments in a venue where, to this day, women are forced to cover up with a hijab. I understand and respect cultural differences. But failing to comply can lead to imprisonment and women's rights are being severely restricted in general,” Nazi Paikidze was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
“It does not feel safe for women from around the world to play here. I am honoured and proud to have qualified to represent the United States in the Women’s World Championship. But, if the situation remains unchanged, I will most certainly not participate in this event,” she added.
This is not the first instance of women chess players being forced to wear the hijab; they were also left fuming when the same was asked of them during a Grand Prix in Iran in early 2016. Unexpectedly, Susan Polgar, a Grandmaster and part of FIDE’s Commission for Women’s Chess, said that the players should respect the cultural differences.
"I have travelled to nearly 60 countries. When I visited different places with different cultures, I like to show my respect by dressing up in their traditional style of clothing. No one asked me to do it. I just do it out of respect. I personally would have no issues with wearing a head scarf (hijab) as long as it is the same to all players. I believe the organisers provided beautiful choices for past participants of Women's Grand Prix,” she said.
Things have not been going well lately for FIDE, with several controversies erupting one after the other. Whether the women players will be forced to wear the Hijab in Iran next year, or some compromise can be reached, remains to be seen.
