If she had returned to Iran, she would likely have been arrested, imprisoned, and possibly even tortured or killed. Her family’s home might have been demolished, and still could be.
The Islamic Republic operates according to this principle: “Make ready for them all that you can of force and of warhorses, so that by them you may strike terror in the enemy of Allah and your enemy…” (Qur’an 8:60)
“Iranian chess player Sara Khadem who competed without hijab ‘lands in Spain after threats,'” Sky News, January 3, 2023:
An Iranian chess player who competed without a hijab has arrived in Spain after being warned not to return home, according to a source close to her.
Sara Khadem, 25, took part in a tournament in the Kazakh city of Almaty last week and was pictured without the head covering, which is mandatory in Iran.
A source close to Ms Khadem, who did not want to be named, said she had received multiple phone calls warning her against returning home.
Other calls said she should go back and promised to “solve her problem”.
The chess player’s family have also received threats, the source said, adding that she had landed in Spain on Tuesday.
Other sportspeople from Iran have also appeared without a hijab in recent months, such as the climber Elnaz Rekabi.
The gestures have been widely interpreted as a protest against Iran’s hardline rulers after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was detained for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.
Newspapers including Spain’s El Pais reported last week that Ms Khadem was planning to relocate to the country.
Tournament organisers are said to have arranged for four bodyguards to stand outside Ms Khadem’s hotel room as the pictures of her uncovered hair appeared in the media….
tim gallagher says
Good for her for escaping that primitive islamic shithole, Iran. The problem will probably be for her family who are stuck back in Iran. There must be so many decent human beings in Iran who would like to escape and join the modern human race and live a pleasant modern style of life.
Keith O says
With luck Tim, the Iranians will have started their own version of the “underground railway” used in a few countries at various times to smuggle innocents out of harms way.
And yeah, get out of shitastan and join the 21st century in a civilised country would be at the top of a lot of peoples “to do” lists.
tim gallagher says
Yes, Keith O, I hope that they do have some kind of underground system to help escape shitastan , a good accurate name of yours for places such as iran. The problem would definitely be the retaliation that the scum who run iran might take against this young woman’s family back in iran. There must be huge numbers of people who would love to get the hell out of iran.
Keith O says
How was the old crack about NZ back in the 80s? I reckon it now applies to Iran.
“Will the last person out of NZ/ Iran please turn out the lights?
tim gallagher says
I remember that clever line, Keith O. I guess it was about all the New Zealanders coming to Australia. Of course, compared to hellish places like Iran, with its primitive islam, New Zealand is, no doubt, a paradise, although I have never gone there to check it out.
David M says
Islam, a backward 7th century fake religion is collding with the modern 21st century. There is a war between the two because they are not compatible. Let’s hope the modern word wins, I think it will.
David M says
modern world, not modern word.
tim gallagher says
That’s the way I see it as well, David M. Islam is so backward and so barbaric in so many ways. I’m with you in hoping that the modern, enlightened way of life in non-Muslim countries wins the battle.
James Lincoln says
Sara Khadem is a smart and attractive woman – who does not like to be controlled by Iranian dictators.
That’s why she is a threat to the regime.
Walter Sieruk says
Actually there’s no rational sensible or logical reason why she would really want to return to that cruel horrible ,cruel Islamic regime of brutal and murderous misogyny.
This young Iranian woman is far too intelligent and ,no doubt, has a lot more common sense to have any desire to return to that horrendously evil and malicious Sharia tyranny of Iran.
Walter Sieruk says
That brutal cruel oppressive misogynistic as well as murderous tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran is based on Sharia which denies basic human rights is viciously harsh oppressive to girls and women. For Sharia supports forcing females to wear the hijab because of its misogyny.
So it should be made known that the actual origin of Sharia is revealed in a Time –Life book with the title MESOPOTAMIA: THE MIGHTY KINGS copyright 1995 ” For that future history book about the ancient pagan world of Mesopotamia informs the reader that “many Islamic laws resemble the Babylon and Assyrian forebears.” .page 150.
Therefore Sharia has no value or worth.