Iran bans woman chess player for not wearing hijab (PHOTO)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Umid Niayesh – Trend:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has banned chess players brother and sister from any upcoming tournament due to the former's playing with an Israeli representative and the latter's not wearing hijab.

Dorsa Derakhshani, an 18-year-old member of the Iranian Women's National Chess Team and the sixth world champion in under-18 games, was expelled from the national team for not covering her hair in the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, which was held in late January and early February 2017, Iranian media quoted Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh, head of Iran's Chess Federation, as saying.

Her 15-year-old brother, Borna Darakhshani was also expelled from the national team because of playing with an Israeli counterpart.

"The first step in dealing with them would be to deprive them from playing in Iran, and they won't have a chance to be in the national team,” Pahlevanzadeh said.

He also said the issue is a matter of “national interest” and the Chess Federation will deal with the siblings in the “severest way possible.”

Dorsa is presently studying in Spain and had participated in the Gibraltar games independently. Her brother, who had also registered in the games on his own, played with Alexander Huzman, a grandmaster from Israel.

The Islamic Republic does not officially recognize Israel and bans members of its national teams to compete with Israeli citizens in international tournaments.