Shohreh Bayat

Shohreh Bayat (Persian: شهره بیات‎; born 1987) is an Iranian chess referee based in England. She was chief arbiter of the Women's World Chess Championship 2020. Bayat is an International Arbiter for FIDE.

Shohreh Bayat
شهره بیات
Bayat in 2016
Born1987 (age 33–34)
NationalityIran
OccupationChess referee
Years active2013–present

Early life and education

Bayat was born in 1987 to an Iranian family. Her Jewish paternal grandmother emigrated to Iran from Baku, Azerbaijan during World War II. They kept their Jewish ancestry hidden. She became the Iranian girls under-12 champion, in 1998. Bayat completed a master's degree in natural resources engineering.[1]

Career

At the age of 25, Bayat began a career as a chess referee with the FIDE. Bayat is the only Grade A arbiter from Asia and was a prominent figure in Iran's chess scene.[1] She served as the chief arbiter of the Women's World Chess Championship 2020 (WWCC). A photograph of Bayat at the WWCC with her hijab around her neck generated controversy in Iran which enforces a strict Islamic dress code.[2] The Chess Federation of Iran requested Bayat take a replacement picture wearing a hijab and issue an apology through social media. Bayat refused because she believes compulsory laws mandating wearing hijabs are misogynistic.[3] In September 2020, she received confirmation from FIDE that she could referee under the English flag.[1]

Personal life

Bayat is married and has family in Iran.[4] In January 2020, she flew to the England to seek asylum. Bayat had previously received a British visa for a chess tournament in Gibraltar.[3] In London in 2020, she celebrated Rosh Hashanah for the first time.[1]

References
  1. Vasilyeva, Nataliya (2020-09-26). "'I couldn't tolerate it any longer': how Iranian chess referee with secret Jewish heritage was forced to live a 'fake' life". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  2. Rainsford, Sarah (2020-01-15). "Iran chess ref Shohreh Bayat fears returning home over hijab row". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  3. Church, Ben (2020-04-14). "Iranian woman fears punishment after condemnation for not wearing the appropriate headscarf". CNN. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  4. Sherwood, Harriet (2020-02-23). "Iranian chess referee who fled to UK could face arrest if she returns". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
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