Shohreh Bayat had not been planning to take a stand, but sometimes it happens anyway. She was working as the Chief Arbiter for the 2020 Women’s World Championship held in China when the President of the Chess Federation from her native Iran sent a message that got under her skin. “The president of the chess federation sent me a message; he said my hijab is not proper. It really made me furious,” Bayat told Lichess in an interview. Head scarves partially covering the hair, also called “hijabs,” must be worn by women at all times in Iran by law. The President’s complaint to Bayat sprung from the head scarf’s exact position; it was too far back, revealing too much hair. “I was already doing my best to tolerate this with difficulty. It was fine by Iranian standards, but he was pushing me and pushing me. I was miles away from my country and they were still hassling me.” Bayat decided to make a little show of force, nothing serious, just a small reminder that she couldn’t be pushed around.

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