No hijab means an Iranian chess pro can't go home

Shoreh Bayat is a referee at the Women's World Chess Championships, but she's accused of violating Iran's Islamic dress code during a match in Shanghai.

Now she tells Reuters that she's afraid to return to her homeland.

Matthew Larotonda reports.

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

(...) I also had my scarf in round three, but apparently it was not enough for the Iranians." Shoreh Bayat has become the latest in a long line of Iranian sports personalities refusing to return to their homeland - because she doesn't want to wear her hijab.

She's a chess pro.

Not just any chess pro -- she's reportedly the first woman to be general secretary of a sport federation in Iran.

And that's what recently brought her to Shanghai, to referee the Women's World Chess Championships.

Except she's now accused of violating Iran's strict Islamic dress code for women, and she fears for her life if she goes back.

We caught up with her at another matchup in Russia.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOREH BAYAT, IRANIAN CHESS REFEREE, SAYING: "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." Bayat claims that this started as a misunderstanding.

At first she did wear her hijab at the Shanghai tournament, she says, but due to some photos at odd camera angles it looked like she wasn't.

By then it was too late.

Her photo was plastered over Iranian media.

She says she was asked to write an apology letter, but since she didn't support the dress code anyway, she refused.

Iran has lost many people to similar situations over the years.

Only days before we spoke to Bayat, the world learned that Iran's only female Olympic champion, a martial artist named Kimia Alizadeh, had also defected.

And earlier this month another chess player was booted from the national team, also for not wearing a hijab overseas.

Bayat says she's not sure what her future holds.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN CHESS REFEREE SHOHREH BAYAT, SAYING: "I had messages from people all around the world and I got invitation to many countries.

But I would like to come back to Iran.

And that's my first priority.

I really hope that they will provide me something to ensure that I will be safe if I come back to Iran.

But if it does not happen, I am just examining my options and considering anything."