PUNE: Woman Grandmaster and former global junior women’ champion Soumya Swaminathan has pulled out of the Asian Team Chess Championship, to be held in Hamadan, Iran, from July 26 to August four, calling the Islamic country’s “obligatory scarf” rule violative of her personal rights.
“I don't need to be forced to put on a headscarf or burqa. I find the Iranian law of obligatory scarf to be in direct violation of my elementary human rights, together with my right to freedom of expression and right to freedom of concept, conscience and religion. It seems that beneath the present instances, the only manner for me to protect my rights is to not pass to Iran,” the 29-year-old, who's India No. five and global No. 97 among ladies, posted on her Facebook account.
Earlier, in 2016, top Indian shooter Heena Sidhu had withdrawn from the Asian Airgun meet in Iran bringing up the same explanation why.
“I don't need to be forced to put on a headscarf or burqa. I find the Iranian law of obligatory scarf to be in direct violation of my elementary human rights, together with my right to freedom of expression and right to freedom of concept, conscience and religion. It seems that beneath the present instances, the only manner for me to protect my rights is to not pass to Iran,” the 29-year-old, who's India No. five and global No. 97 among ladies, posted on her Facebook account.
Earlier, in 2016, top Indian shooter Heena Sidhu had withdrawn from the Asian Airgun meet in Iran bringing up the same explanation why.
Indian chess star says no to headscarf, pulls out of event in Iran
![Indian chess star says no to headscarf, pulls out of event in Iran]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 13, 2018
Rating:
