(CNN) — The Iranian website “Jamran” said, on Tuesday, that the chess player Sarah Khadem, also known as Sara Sadat Khadem al-Sharia, participated in an international tournament without a headscarf.
Khadim is the latest athlete to appear in a competition without a veil since anti-government protests erupted in September due to the death of young woman Mahsa Amini (22 years old) while she was in the custody of the “morality” police, who arrested her for wearing “inappropriate clothes.”
And the player appeared in the photos published by the site without her veil, which is mandatory under the Iranian dress code, during her participation in an international tournament in Kazakhstan.
CNN contacted the player via her Instagram account, requesting comment.
It is noteworthy that Sara Khadem, born in 1997, ranks 804th among players in the world and 10th in Iran, according to the International Chess Federation.
In October, Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi competed in South Korea without wearing her headscarf, which she later said fell by mistake. However, it is unclear whether Elnaz Rekabi’s remarks were made under duress.
In November, Iranian archer Parmida Ghasemi showed her support for the anti-government protests by removing her headscarf during an award ceremony in Tehran, and later said she had not noticed it falling off.
A video shared on social media shows her letting headscarves drop what was widely interpreted as supporting the demonstrations.
“Athletes who acted against Islamic norms regret their actions afterwards and are looking for an opportunity to make up for their mistake,” Iranian Deputy Sports Minister Maryam Kazhimipour said in November.