Wearing a hijab in Iran

[CanadianJohn]

Top women chess players are threatening to boycott the world championship in Iran because they will be forced to wear hijabs.

Female Grandmasters will risk arrest if they do not cover up to compete in the strict Middle Eastern country due to host the knock-out tournament next year.

There is a variety of opinion:

• when in Rome, do as the Romans do
• if you don't like it, don't go
• complain to the governing body (FIDE)

I'm wondering what posters on this board think.

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3814137/World-chess-uproar-women-told-play-year-s-world-championships-Iran-wearing-hijabs.html#ixzz4LiUB7wzz

Oh you're missing out. It's a lovely country.

Yeah, Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe loves it.

That child marriage website says 3% of girls (or children?) in Iran were married before they were 15. The same website gives the equivalent percentage for brazil as 11%. Would you have boycotted the Olympics for this reason?

I feel like the fact that there are dress codes in Islamic countries make this such a visible issue that it gets undue prominence. Other countries (eg brazil) have a lot of serious issues too but they are easier to ignore.

Funny how some people get incredibly interested in sexism in western culture only when oppressive religious cultures are criticised

Too true Karlos unfortunately western football has brought us back only too early

you can't really believe the crap you're coming out with, can you soft? Not really.

Funny how some people get incredibly interested in sexism in western culture only when oppressive religious cultures are criticised

That's not me though is it?

SoftFluffyTowel

I'm not sure what your ultimate point is here. We should boycott everything? Nothing? What?

Yeah I know aqua woman, I've long felt an aching void that only a trip to a misogynist theocracy could fill
Shame it'll have to wait

Good point upthread about the chaperoning. That goes beyond pretty scarves, no?

And what if any male or female players/staff are homosexual? Never mind women's rights, never mind gay rights; feel the money.

Surely the point is that although a woman can be jailed in Iran for the 'crime' of watching men's sports, we mustn't criticise because some women in the uk feel there is an expectation on them to wear make up.

I think mostly my point is that a lot of the arguments people are using as to why this shouldn't be held in Iran actually apply a lot more widely to countries most people wouldn't even think about boycotting. I also can't imagine getting the same level of anger about a decision to hold an event in a non-muslim country, whatever their approach is to women, and that makes me feel a bit defensive in this case.

I don't think boycotts or preventing Iran from holding the event are the answer, no. In extreme cases I can see benefits of coordinated sanctions (rather than just a single decision about a chess tournament) but I don't think Iran is that extreme.

I've long felt an aching void that only a trip to a misogynist theocracy could fill

arf

Which non Islamic countries have laws on what women must wear?

MorrisZapp: the first question is whether your objection is to the physical act of wearing the veil etc, that you think shouldn't be imposed on chess players, or is it about what that symbolises? They are quite distinct issues.

You've answered a question with a question, SFT.

It's called dodging the question
Few other options in the circs - apart from admitting she's wrong of course

I object to all of it. The symbolism, the reality, and the chess players having to follow the outdated law on the matter.

There's not one aspect that doesn't royally pee me off.

That child marriage website says 3% of girls (or children?) in Iran were married before they were 15. The same website gives the equivalent percentage for brazil as 11%. Would you have boycotted the Olympics for this reason?

Uh .... yes? Of course. I think they have also forced-birther laws there. Alas, no one ever asks for my opinion on whether to boycott.

Winchester, nigel short is a bit of a bellend but his tweet on this is sound

"2017 Women's Wrld Ch. awarded to Iran. Women forced to wear the Islamic hijab, flouting FIDE statutes against sex & religious discrimination"

SFT, any thoughts on how players can manage if their coaches are male, since they aren't allowed to be in a room alone with them?

I'm not fussed whether the driver for this is religion, culture or a tea leaf reading: it's seriously awful treatment of women for FIDE to select a country that demands this.

If I had to, I'd go but I'd take my bike with me so I could get some exercise in between matches. Oh, except I couldn't as I'd get arrested because even women cycling is somehow sinful.

Women can't cycle in Iran? For real? Christ that's depressing.

Although to be fair, a picture of Keira Knightley made me feel a bit shit last week so life is quite similar here.

It's a fairly recent thing with a fair bit of protest so hopefully won't last long.

www.peacetimes.news/2016/09/29/iran-tries-to-ban-women-from-cycling/

Saudi Arabia's similar... really quite absurd.

www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/04/2013428030514192.html