A U.S. CHESS CHAMPION REFUSES TO TRAVEL TO IRAN FOR ONE OF THE
CHAMPIONSHIPS BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES THAT HER BEING FORCED
TO WEAR A HIJAB GOES AGAINST WHAT SHE BELIEVES
AND ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN OPPRESSING WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS STORY HAS TO DO WITH A CHESS PLAYER THAT WAS ACTUALLY
BORN IN EUROPE AND SHE IS A CHESS SUPER STAR.
SHE IS THE TOP CHESS PLAYER, FEMALE PLAYER, IN THE UNITED
STATES.
THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IN IRAN.
IRAN IS GOING TO HOST IT SO THEY ARE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY
WANT BUT THERE ARE LAWS IN IRAN SAYING THAT WOMEN CANNOT BE
SEEN IN PUBLIC WITHOUT WEARING A HIJAB.
AS A RESULT, NOT SEE WHO IS THE CHEST CHAMPION THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT, SHE REFUSES TO GO THAT SHE IS BOYCOTTING IT.
SHE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT SHE WILL BOYCOTT FEBRUARY'S
WOMEN'S WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IN A RAN BECAUSE THE PLAYERS
WILL HAVE TO WEAR HIJABS.
SHE SAYS SOME CONSIDER HIJABS A PART OF CULTURE.
BUT I KNOW A LOT OF IRANIAN WOMEN ARE BRAVELY PROTESTING
THE LAW DAILY AND RISKING A LOT BY DOING SO.
THAT'S WHY I WILL NOT WEAR A HIJAB IN SUPPORT WOMEN'S OPPRESSION.
UNDERSTAND THE IN IRAN AS A WOMAN YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE
WHICH IS WHY SHE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT.
SHE MAKES CLEAR THAT SHE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH ISLAM, SHE HAS NO
PROBLEM WITH A PARTICULAR RELIGION, SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE
FACT THAT THESE WOMEN ARE FORCED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS OR FORCED
NOT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
I AGREE WITH HER.
I THINK SHE IS DOING SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT.
THIS IS ANOTHER STORY THAT IS A ROLLER COASTER RIDE.
LET'S GO ON THE ROLLER COASTER.
1ST OFF, I CAME IN THINKING OF COURSE I AGREE WITH HER.
BUT IT IS IN IRAN, SO WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR RULES.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN HER PROCESS IS NOT VALID ON IT IS STILL VALID.
BEFORE WE GET TOO ANGRY ABOUT IT IRAN I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE
HAVING A CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP THERE, THERE IS SOME CHANCE THAT
THE PERSIANS INVENTED CHESS AND IN FACT CHECK MAKE MEANS THE
KING IS FROZEN OR THE KING IS HELPLESS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE RIGHT TO MAKE WOMEN HIJABS.
THEN
I READ A QUOTE FROM THE TOP
CHESS RANKINGS, SHE PLACED THE
NUMBER ONE LUSTER BUT SHE IS NUMBER FOR THIS YEAR.
SHE SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT IN IRAN
FOR WOMEN AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HOST ANY WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ANY SPORTING FIELDS SO SHE IS SAYING IT IS
NOT RIGHT TO CALL FOR A BOYCOTT AND SHE SAYS THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO SHOW STRENGTH AND IRAN.
I WAS LIKE THAT IS A GOOD POINT.
IT'S NOT ENDING THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
SHE IS A ONE PERSON BOYCOTT THAT SHE CARES A LOT ABOUT THIS.
SHE GREW UP IN GEORGIA AND THEY ARE THEY TEACH CHESS IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THAT IS AWESOME.
I WISH OUR SCHOOLS WOULD DO THAT.
THE IRANIAN WOMAN WHO WAS ALSO INTO CHEST STARTED SAYING
THERE IS A FEMINIST ARGUMENT IN THERE AND WOMEN SAYING I AM
NOT GOING TO BE UPON IN SOCIETY'S BEAUTIES GAIN THAT
IS WHY I LIKE WEARING ONE.
WHEN THERE IS A CHOICE THEN DO YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO WEAR IT, BY ALL MEANS DO IT.
THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
THE PROBLEM ANY RON IS THAT THERE IS NO CHOICE.
THE CHESS FEDERATION SAYS WE ARE NOT MAKING HER WEAR IT BUT
WE ASK THEM TO RESPECT LOCAL CULTURES.
RESPECTING LOCAL CULTURES MAKE SENSE TO SOME DEGREE.
LOCAL CULTURES AND LOCAL LAW SO ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE LIKE WE
ARE NOT SAYING THAT THEY HAVE TO BUT THEY SHOULD RESPECT THE LAWS
AND THE LAW IS THAT IF YOU ARE A WOMAN YOU HAVE TO COVER UP.
THAT WORDPLAY DOESN'T WORK FOR ME.
IN THAT CASE FROM THE FEW FUNDAMENT CEMENT ARGUMENT ON THE
EARLIER POINT, I DON'T AGREE WITH THEM BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO
WEAR ONE AND IT IS NOT MANDATORY, I DON'T AGREE, BUT
THAT IS NOT UP TO ME TO AGREE, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
AS ANNA HAS POINTED OUT THAT IS NOT THE SITUATION IN IRAN.
FINALLY GETS THE END OF THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE AND SHE
TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE IS PUTTING THIS UP AT MY STEALTHY FREEDOM
PROJECT.
WHAT THAT IS WOMEN IN IRAN BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE PICTURES
WITHOUT THEIR JOB WHICH IS ILLEGAL.
AND PUT IT ONLINE.
BUT IT ON FACEBOOK AND THAT TAKES SERIOUS COURAGE AND SHE
IS SUPPORTING THAT MOVEMENT.
THEY'RE ALSO PUTTING UP OTHER PICTURES THAT ARE ILLEGAL
INCLUDING WOMEN RIDING BICYCLES.
THAT IS ILLEGAL IN IRAN.
FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO SAY NO, IT IS ALL A CHOICE AND
WOMEN WANT TO WEAR IT.
REALLY, WOMEN DON'T WANT TO RIDE BICYCLES IN IRAN?
THAT IS SOME SORT OF CULTURAL THING.
NO, IN OUR CULTURE, ICICLES ARE OBVIOUSLY FOR MEN AND NOT WOMEN.
THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT WOMEN ARE DOING
IT BECAUSE IT IS THEIR CHOICE IS WHEN THEY LIVE IN A FREE
SOCIETY THAT DOES GIVE THEM THE CHOICE.
IN THIS CASE THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
IT IS MANDATORY.
TO SOME WOMEN IN IRAN WHERE IT AND GENUINELY LIKE IT AND FEEL
LIKE IT IS RIGHT FOR THEM?
SURE, I AM POSITIVE THERE ARE SOME WOMEN THAT FEEL THAT WAY
BUT THAT IS NOT TO SAY THE EVERYWOMAN FEELS THAT WAY AND
THIS CHESS PLAYER IS UNCOMFORTABLE.
LET ME BE HONEST WITH YOU, IF SOMEONE TOLD ME YOU NEED TO
COVER UP, YOU NEED TO WEAR THIS HEADDRESS I WOULD LOSE MY MIND.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD THAT WOULD MAKE ME PUT THAT ON
BECAUSE IN MY VIEW THAT IS A FORM OF OPPRESSION IF I AM
FORCED TO DO IT.
I AGREE WITH HER 100%.
FOR THE WOMEN WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF WEARING IT, MORE POWER TO
YOU.
SHE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST SOMETHING THAT SHE SEES AS
WRONG AND I THINK THAT IS A COURAGEOUS THING TO DO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT SHE DID WHAT SHE DO ATTENTION
TO SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU CAN'T HAVE
CHANGED UNLESS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND YOU'VE
GOT SOME SORT OF ATTENTION BEING PAID TO THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
I THINK SHE DID A GREAT SERVICE FOR THE WOMEN OF IRAN.
THAT TOURNAMENT WILL SURVIVE.
SHE IS REALLY MAKING A SACRIFICE.
SHE IS DOING THAT FOR THE WOMEN OF IRAN BECAUSE ONCE IT IS
MANDATED THAT YOU WEAR WHAT THAT IS OPPRESSION OF WOMEN SO
THE FACT THAT SHE WAS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THAT IS FANTASTIC
AND I REALLY APPLAUD HER COURAGE IN DOING THIS AND HER PERSONAL
SACRIFICE.