Fidé, russia and iran: an interview with shohreh bayat | thearticle

Shohreh Bayat, the world’s most celebrated chess arbiter, is once again in the global chess headlines. Shohreh, it will be recalled, attracted the wrath of the Iranian Ayatollahs when she

was photographed during her arbiting work,  wearing her hijab in a slightly unorthodox position. Justifiably fearing reprisals if she returned to Iran, Shohreh successfully sought and was

awarded UK asylum. For those who want to know more about this particular _CAUSE C__É__L__È__BRE_, please read this chilling account on the _lichess.com_ site. Shohreh now lives in the UK, 

and was happily pursuing her vocation as a chess arbiter or referee. Happily until recently that is, towards the close of 2022, a further incident caused enhanced ripples of hysteria from

the Iranian Federation to persuade FIDÉ, the world chess federation, to strike the most hypocritical and spurious posture imaginable, even by their infamously low standards. In a world title

level contest towards the end of 2022, Shohreh was warned by FIDÉ for defending women’s rights. Her offence was to sport a plain T-shirt emblazoned with the uncontroversial, even wholesome 

banner: “WOMEN LIFE FREEDOM”. This message was entirely in concord with the statutes of FIDÉ, the governing body for world chess. I now quote from Article 4 of the FIDE principles: 4.1 FIDE

is a democratically established and fully independent organisation, _based on the principle of equal rights of its members._ 4.3 FIDE is committed to _respecting all internationally

recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights_. 4.4 FIDE _rejects any kind of discrimination_ against a country, _private person_ or group of people on

account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, citizenship, birth, age, status, wealth, disability, language, religion, _sex, gender identity or expression_, pregnancy,

sexual orientation, _political opinions_, _or any other reason_. This did not prevent the FIDÉ President, the pro-Putin former Russian functionary, Arkady Dvorkovich, from insisting that

Shohreh cease and desist from wearing her women’s rights T-shirt. In an interview with me earlier this week, Shohreh expanded on the apparent, if publicly undeclared, issue at the heart of

the developing dispute. _“_ _SINCE I WORE THAT SHIRT, FIDE REMOVED ME FROM THE ARBITERS’ COMMISSION. THEN THEY APPOINTED A DELEGATE OF THE IRANIAN CHESS FEDERATION AS SECRETARY OF THE FIDÉ

WOMEN_ _’_ _S COMMISSION AND OFFERED ME WORK UNDER HER (A REPRESENTATIVE OF MY OPPRESSOR FEDERATION) IN THE WOMEN_ _’_ _S COMMISSION._ _MEANWHILE, THEY CALL ME INAPPROPRIATE AND

UNPROFESSIONAL FOR SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS, WHILE FIDÉ REMAIN SILENT ABOUT IRAN_ _’_ _S REFUSAL TO PLAY AGAINST ISRAEL, DUE TO POLITICAL REASONS. I THINK THAT FIDÉ’S ACTIONS OR INACTIONS

MAKE EVERYTHING CLEAR: AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE FIDÉ LEADERSHIP, RUSSIA AND THEIR OLD ALLY IRAN.” _ Shohreh then switched to attire supporting Ukraine in their struggle against the 

Russian invasion and their illegal war. Again she was admonished, and this time punished. Her name has subsequently disappeared from the FIDÉ Arbiters’ Commission. In her interview for 

_TheArticle_, Shohreh told me that she believes her career as an arbiter in FIDÉ events has now been cancelled, at least while Dvorkovich remains President. I have been warning for some time

in this column that Dvorkovich’s loyalties lie primarily with pro-Putin Russian officialdom. In my view it is anomalous that the World Chess Federation alone, in squalid isolation amongst

international governing bodies, remains under the control of a Russian national — one, indeed, who does nothing to disguise his sympathies. When I spoke to her, Shohreh agreed that FIDÉ can

only correct this dire situation by removing Dvorkovich and replacing him with his Deputy President, the ever popular Indian former world champion, Viswanathan Anand. I am, however, not

holding my breath, and many decent people within FIDÉ are either staying quiet or adhering to the party line, doubtless swayed by the considerable patronage wielded by the office of the

President. I trust that the English Chess Federation (ECF) will not succumb to the forces of darkness and insist on continuing to employ Shohreh as an arbiter in significant events. It

should be noted that FIDÉ has no dress code for arbiters. If they wish to impose uniform attire, as we have done for years with the World Memory Championships, which I co founded with the

late Tony Buzan in 1991, then regulations should be passed to that effect. The stench of self-justifying hypocrisy arising from the FIDÉ cesspit is overwhelming. While on the topic of

hypocrisy, my quotation of classics from Gilbert and Sullivan last week, in the context of Prince Harry’s inability to count chess pieces, appears to have provoked a lively response. This

column, unusually, attained the number two slot for most frequently rated contributions. The impressive tally of ratings was doubtless fuelled by the almost equally divided pro and

anti-Harry/Meghan opinion of the _VOX LECTORUM.__ _ Returning to that theme, I cannot resist reflecting on Gilbert and Sullivan’s exposé of late 19th century ducal venality in _The

Gondoliers. _Here is the song of the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro: _To help unhappy commoners, and add to their enjoyment,_ _Affords a man of noble rank congenial employment;_ _Of our

attempts we offer you examples illustrative:_ _The work is light, and, I may add, it_ _’_ _s most remunerative._ _Small titles and orders_ _For Mayors and Recorders_ _We get – and they_ _’_

_re highly delighted!_ _MP_ _’_ _s baronetted,_ _Sham Colonels gazetted,_ _And second-rate Aldermen knighted –_ _Yes Aldermen knighted. _ _Foundation-stone laying_ _We find very paying:_ _It

adds a large sum to our makings –_ _At charity dinners_ _The best of speech-spinners,_ _We get ten percent on the takings –_ _We present any lady_ _Whose conduct is shady_ _Or smacking of

doubtful propriety –_ _When Virtue would quash her,_ _We take and whitewash her,_ _And launch her in first-rate society –_ _We recommend acres_ _Of clumsy dressmakers –_ _Their fit and their

finishing touches –_ _A sum in addition_ _They pay for permission_ _To say that they make for the Duchess–_ _Those pressing prevailers,_ _The readymade tailors,_ _Quote us as their great

double-barrel –_ _We allow them _ _to do so,_ _Though Robinson Crusoe_ _Would jib at their wearing apparel –_ _We sit, by selection,_ _Upon the direction_ _Of several Companies’_ _ bubble _

_–_ _As soon as they_ _’_ _re floated_ _We_ _’_ _re freely bank-noted –_ _We_ _’_ _re pretty well paid for our trouble –_ _We write letters blatant_ _On medicines patent _ _–_ _And use any

other you mustn_ _’_ _t –_ _Believe us you mustn_ _’_ _t _ _And vow our complexion_ _Derives its perfection_ _From somebody_ _’_ _s soap – which it doesn_ _’_ _t –_ _It certainly doesn_ _’_

_t _ _We_ _’_ _re ready as witness_ _To any one_ _’_ _s fitness_ _To fill any place or preferment –_ _We_ _’_ _re often in waiting_ _At junket or fêting_, _And sometimes attend an interment

–_ _In short, if you_ _’_ _d kindle_ _The spark of a swindle,_ _Lure simpletons into your clutches –_ _Yes; into your clutches._ _Or hoodwink a debtor,_ _You cannot do better_ _Than trot out

a Duke or Duchess!_ _A Duke or a Duchess. _ (“To help unhappy commoners”, _The Gondoliers_) In other news, Dinah Dobson, three times British Women’s chess champion, is now out of intensive

care, and returned for home care, after being struck by a pizza delivery motorcyclist. Sadly, that other well respected British arbiter, fount of wisdom and moderation, David Sedgwick, has

also been hospitalised after a stroke. Further columns will continue to monitor their progress. This week’s game is a demonstration of female chess prowess by our multitalented heroine

Shohreh Bayat, from a recent European Team Women’s Championship match against a fellow arbiter, Johanna Johannsdottir of Iceland. _Raymond Keene_ _’_ _s latest book _ _“_ _Fifty Shades of

Ray: Chess in the year of the Coronavirus”, containing some of his best pieces from TheArticle, is now available from _ _Blackwell_ _’_ _s_ _. His 206th book, Chess in the Year of the King,

with a foreword by The Article contributor Patrick Heren, and written in collaboration with former Reuters chess correspondent, Adam Black, is in preparation. It will be published later this

year._ _ _ A MESSAGE FROM THEARTICLE _We are the only publication that’s committed to covering every angle. We have an important contribution to make, one that’s needed now more than ever,

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