'I Loosened My Hijab at a Chess Championship. Now I’m Afraid to Return to Iran.'
Share
[aggregation-styles]
The Washington Post Subscription
Religious indoctrination starts early in Iran, when you are forced at school to learn the Koran. I was a dutiful student, praying assiduously while wearing a loose, ugly school uniform, with my hair hidden under a big scarf. At age 8, I even won a prize for fasting.
At 9, I was introduced by my father to the beautiful game of chess, beloved by ancient Persian poets. Chess requires logic and critical thinking — not faith. Slowly, in my teens, I began to question why, if God is fair, is there so much pain and suffering in the world?
Even if my faith was fading, as a woman in Iran I had no choice but to tolerate the hijab — the Islamic emblem of constant, misogynistic oppression. I avoided looking at myself in mirrors. Wearing the head-covering was torment enough. When traveling abroad for chess tournaments, I admired the young women from other countries who wore nice clothes, their hair beautifully styled. I gradually began to spend more time in front of the mirror, trying to find ways, within the confines of my fabric prison, to appear normal.
Read More →
The Washington Post Subscription
Religious indoctrination starts early in Iran, when you are forced at school to learn the Koran. I was a dutiful student, praying assiduously while wearing a loose, ugly school uniform, with my hair hidden under a big scarf. At age 8, I even won a prize for fasting.
At 9, I was introduced by my father to the beautiful game of chess, beloved by ancient Persian poets. Chess requires logic and critical thinking — not faith. Slowly, in my teens, I began to question why, if God is fair, is there so much pain and suffering in the world?
Even if my faith was fading, as a woman in Iran I had no choice but to tolerate the hijab — the Islamic emblem of constant, misogynistic oppression. I avoided looking at myself in mirrors. Wearing the head-covering was torment enough. When traveling abroad for chess tournaments, I admired the young women from other countries who wore nice clothes, their hair beautifully styled. I gradually began to spend more time in front of the mirror, trying to find ways, within the confines of my fabric prison, to appear normal.
Read More →
By Shohreh Bayat | 17 Feb 2020
Shohreh Bayat is an arbiter for the International Chess Federation.
RELATED TOPICS:
Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump
Politics /
3 hours ago
Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children
News /
3 hours ago
California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left
Opinion /
3 hours ago
How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again
Opinion /
1 day ago
What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.
Sports /
1 day ago
Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony
Politics /
2 days ago
Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight
Events /
2 days ago
Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase
Economy /
2 days ago
Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99
A suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked California Highway Patrol motorcycle and tow truck along Highway 99 near North Avenue, missing ...
Local /
2 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos

Local /
2 hours ago
Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

World /
2 hours ago
Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

World /
3 hours ago
Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

Politics /
3 hours ago
Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

News /
3 hours ago
Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

Opinion /
3 hours ago
California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

Opinion /
1 day ago
How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

Video /
3 days ago