Feb. 23, 2017

Iranian chess authorities have banned a brother and sister from competing after the brother played a match against an Israeli national and the sister did not wear a hijab (traditional Muslim head covering) in a tournament. Last year saw popular protests around the world against proposed European bans of the Burka (another traditional Muslim covering) and against the the so-called “Burkini Ban” in France (the law was later repealed). I can’t help but wonder where all those protesters are now? After all, if it’s wrong to prohibit a woman from wearing a traditional Muslim head covering, isn’t it also wrong to force a woman to wear one? Not to mention that when a country hosts an international competition, should the country really be allowed to disqualify competitors for having played against an Israeli? Again, where’s the popular outcry?