A Turkish delight
By Malcolm Pein
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 04/04/2008
Turkey is preparing to host the Women’s World Chess Championship after an approach by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to Turkish Minister of State Murat Basesgioglu. Following the collapse of the original event, due to be hosted by Argentina, Iran offered to host the tournament but only on condition that all the players wore a headscarf.
The disturbing prospect of every player, irrespective of background being forced to cover their heads, irrespective of their background had a lot of FIDE officials running for cover themselves.
The Iranians even demanded that men not be allowed into the playing arena. The religious issues submerged the other consequences of a tournament in Iran which would have been the banning of the Israeli teams and the extreme unlikelihood of the USA and many western countries sending a delegation.
It is ironic that Turkey, a country that was strictly secular until recently and which is in the midst of turmoil over the issue of the wearing of headscarves in universities be the place that digs Fide out of a very tight spot.
Here is the full article.
Iran has held many Asian Youth (official FIDE) events in recent years where female players are obliged to wear head scarves.
Why is it only a problem when its a big event?
Wearing head scarves i can understand (somewhat). But banning men from the playing hall?? Sorry, but that is just the dumbest thing I have heard in a while, even if it is due to religious/cultural reasons. There is a little thing called rationality (which chess has plenty of). And it is a problem because that type of thinking is at least 100-200 years behind the times.
I was banned from a tournament because I was promoting the Navy!
All I said was I lived in a boat full of seamen.
Turkey is still more cicular than most european christian countries.
The issue with head-scarf, is whether it should be ALLOWED (not compulsory) to wear it in universities. Now with current legistlation, even if you want to wear head-scarf you are not allowed to.
In UK, and most european countries, anyone can wear head-scarf if they please. This is the situation in Turkey.
Iran is a terrorist nation. They actively support international terrorism and with a president that publicly states that “Israel has no right to exist” is, in and of itself, reason for FIDE to never consider Iran for any tournaments.
Second, the way in which women are treated (or, rather, mistreated) is further reason for FIDE…and the civilized world…to distance itself from Iran.
Turkey, though not an ideal site, is better. But, why could it not be held in the more civilized West? Or, Asia? Or, better, the USA?
Is it a funding issue?
The “more civilized west” (historically but presently as well) has been involved with more wars and injustice around the globe (including the west itself), than any other place in the world 🙂
As for USA … Well first there is no funding for chess (because in civilized USA, chess is regarded much lesser than American football, unlike uncivilized Turkey or Russia), second why would it be in US and not Australia, not India, not Russia etc. Of course it is meaningless to ask why not in one particular country. You obviously can’t have all competitions in one country (check the Olympics for example) so nesecarily some will go outside US.
And Islamic nations treat women as unequal, just look at Saudi Arabia where “wife beating” is not only permissable but advocated!
And you make fun of the West???!!!
If you recall medieval history, after the idiot Mohammad brain washed people into believing the trash called “Islam” then they went on to forcibly “convert” all other people they could.
Talk of the West, the Crusades, all you wish. We need another modern Crusade to rescue the women from the horrible conditions that foolish Islam places upon them.
Women are EQUAL…
In every way…
and you can make fun of the U.S.A. but we treat women equally….such is the fact that we are the most powerful and freest nation on Earth.
And Iran…you will be next.
Peace not war!
Jesus said, “I do not desire sacrifice from you, but I desire Mercy.”
The West needs to obey their Lord and not Mad King George W.
And this has what to do with the equality and treatment of women in Muslim nations?
FIDE should never agree to have any tournament in any nation that so abuses the rights of women.
Period.
In Saudi Arabia, women can still be “stoned” to death for the most silly things that men get away with all the time. It’s sick. It’s warped. and it’s inhumane.
People can talk about the West and the U.S. but we, with our many faults, do NOT treat women in such a disgusting manner.
You can talk of crusades and how Christianity did this in the past or that, but it is avoiding the issue of the mistreatment and violation of basic human dignity regarding women in Islamic nations.
Why avoide the question:
Why does FIDE sponsor the Women’s WCC in a muslim nation (no matter how “liberal”) when the very nature of Islam is, in one respect, to regard women and treat women in such a terrible way.
It’s not right.
And the women whould boycott the location, tell FIDE where to go, and if they want to play in another venue, then go ahead…
the world would recognize the winner.
Some issue are very important…and the issue of Islam and the treatment of women in Muslim countries is quite serious.
What an idiot! The last “King George” was in Britain…not the U.S.
What planet is this person writing from??????
must have never had 1st grade history.
He meant G. Bush