Indian chess player pulls out of event, due to imposed dress code

PUNE:This year, the Asian Team Chess Championship is to be held in Hamadan, Iran.The female candidates have been asked to wear a headscarf compulsorily.

Woman Grandmaster and former world junior girl’s champion ,Soumya Swaminathan, has pulled out of the championship calling the compulsory headscarf rule violative of her personal rights.

The player stated that she does not want to wear a headscarf or burqa and that the rule is a violation of her basic rights of being a human being.

She also stated that under the present circumstances, she can protect her rights only if she doesn’t go to Iran.Earlier in 2016, Heena Sidhu, top Indian shooter had also withdrawn from the Asian Airgun meet in Iran, citing the same reason.

Soumya has stated in her Facebook post, that she was very disappointed to see that a player’s rights were given little to no importance, during the organization of the official championships.

Several other female have withdrawn from several championships and meets, due to Iran’s compulsory headscarf rule.