MADRID (Reuters) – Spain has announced that an Iranian chess player, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, known as Sara Khadem, has been granted Spanish citizenship. Khadem moved to Spain in January after competing without a hijab, which led to an arrest warrant being issued against her in Iran due to the country’s strict Islamic dress codes.
Khademalsharieh made headlines when she participated in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships held in Kazakhstan in late December, opting not to wear the mandatory headscarf imposed by Iran’s dress codes.
The mandatory hijab policy sparked controversy and unrest in Iran, and gained international attention when Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, died in the custody of the morality police in September.
In a statement to Reuters, the 26-year-old Khadem expressed no regrets for her gesture in support of the protest movement against Iran’s clerical leadership.
Spain’s official gazette reported that the cabinet approved Khadem’s citizenship on Tuesday, citing the “special circumstances” surrounding her case.
Emma Pinedo reported on the story, with editing by Alison Williams.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
