She is one of top chess players who made headlines around the world when she went into exile for refusing to wear a headscarf at the 2022 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Now, in the International Women’s Day edition of Elle magazine, IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh—also known as Sara Khadem—is featured on the cover in her adopted country of Spain. The 25-year-old fled with her family after she had played at the women’s event in December without a headscarf as required by government authorities. The danger had become clear. Khadem was quickly warned not to return home and her family also received threats. Her decision played out against the backdrop of the protest movement that has swept and the departure of several high-profile chess players in recent years, the most prominent being the young star GM Alireza Firouzja who relocated to France.
