Her Persian name is hard to pronounce: Sarasadat Khandemalsarie. 26 year old Iranian chess champion he is one of the last links in a long chain of people who have known the wrath and revenge of the Tehran regime.

Date of Birth March 10, 1997commonly known as Sara Candemwith enviable titles in world-class chess (International Master and Women’s Grandmaster).

Last December in international chess matches in Kazakhstandecided to compete hijab – something obligatory (according to the regime) for Iranian women, even outside the country.

Sarah highlighted the hypocrisy by stating that no one was wearing a headscarf behind the cameras. However, she wanted to send a message of support rebels against the theocratic regime of Iran.

Her decision has been met with retaliation from Tehran as she is already waiting at the airport for her return to her homeland. the arrest warrant.

The solution, along with her husband and her one-year-old child, was to emigrate to southern Spain.

Now they live there through”golden visa” (after buying a property). For obvious reasons, the exact location has not been established.

I even met her Pedro Sanchez at the end of last month. “As much as I learned from this woman today, she inspired me,” said the Spanish prime minister, a symbolic gesture of support from Madrid.

At the same time, talking to El PaisSara Kadem revealed that she only wore the headscarf in tournaments when there were cameras and because she represented Iran.

“With the hijab, it’s not about me, I’m not feeling well, and I wanted to put an end to this situation.“, – he emphasized and added: “So I decided not to wear it anymore.”

In a conversation with the BBC, she was asked if she regrets anything now that her life has completely changed. Without thinking, he said no.

“I miss my family, but I wouldn’t say I regret my decision. I still represent Iran – I am Iranian and the people of Iran still consider me Iranian.”

“I’m not an activist and I don’t have a message for people who are taking so much risk. The people protesting on the streets are an inspiration to me and many others,” she added in a level-headed message declaring the fear that clouds her every action.

Sarah was born in the early spring of 1997. millennial girl from Tehrangrew up playing tennis and basketball, but over time, her love and undoubted talent for chess, which she discovered in 8 years from her classmate.

The BBC asked her if she had considered joining the protests herself? “Yes, of course,” he replied. But her little son, oh Sam, held her. “I have responsibilities to him and I thought maybe I could use my influence in a different way.”

It’s not the first time he’s violated them. strict rules of conduct Islamic Republic. 2020Ukrainian plane taking off from Tehran airport was shot down by what turned out to be Corps of the Revolutionary Guard Iran, which led to death 176 people. Three days passed before the authorities admitted their mistake.

Kadem has stated on social media that she plans to retire from the national team. She never once mentioned the flight — however, she was forced to sign a statement that there was nothing political in her post as a message.

The next time she went to the airport, her passport was confiscated and she thought her career was over.

Her husband, Ardesir Ahmadi, is a filmmaker and web show host – he also has first-hand experience of being on the wrong side of the Islamic Republic. As a result of a hip-hop documentary, he was beaten and jailed for three months.

“Arrest warrants were issued against us that day. So I had mixed feelings: I was appreciated in this country, and arrest warrants were issued in my own country, where he achieved great success.”