Iranian chess referee accused of violating islamic dress code, says she won't return home

Shohreh Bayat says her safety cannot be guaranteed if she returns to Iran after being accused of violating islamic dress code.

SHOWS: VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA (JANUARY 17, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN CHESS REFEREE SHOHREH BAYAT, SAYING: "It was very, very difficult for me because it was something unexpected.

I had my hijab but the angle of the camera was kind of that it was not clear in different photos.

And if you take the videos, you will see that I had my hijab in round two.

And I also had my scarf in round three.

But apparently it was not enough for the Iranians.

And they wanted me to write something, to post something about this.

And I just couldn't support hijab.

And I've noticed that they have already condemned me.

And things were out of my control.

So I decided not to wear hijab.

Because that wouldn't change anything." 2.

WHITE FLASH VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA (JANUARY 16, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN CHESS REFEREE SHOHREH BAYAT, SAYING: "I had many discussions with Iranian Chess Federation.

I asked them to provide me a written letter that if I come back to Iran I will be safe.

They had some contacts but in the end they said that it was not possible to send me any letter to guarantee that I will be safe if I come back to Iran." STORY: An Iranian chess referee who has been accused of violating her country's Islamic dress code while adjudicating a women's tournament said that she does not want to return home from Russia out of fear for her safety.

Shohreh Bayat, 32, told Reuters she would not travel back to her homeland unless she was given security guarantees in writing from Iran's chess federation.