Shohreh Bayat

Shohreh Bayat (; born 1987) is an Iranian chess arbiter based in England. She was chief arbiter of the Women's World Chess Championship 2020. Bayat is an International Arbiter for FIDE. She was awarded an International Women of Courage Award in 2021.

Early life and education Bayat was born in 1987 in Rasht, Iran.

Career

At the age of 25, Bayat began a career as a chess arbiter with the FIDE. Bayat is one of the first Grade A arbiters from Asia and was a prominent figure in Iran's chess scene. The requested Bayat take a replacement picture wearing a hijab and issue an apology through social media. Bayat refused because she believes compulsory laws mandating wearing hijabs are misogynistic. In September 2020, she received confirmation from FIDE that she could referee under the English flag.

Personal life Bayat is married and has family in Iran. In January 2020, she flew to England from Russia to seek asylum. Bayat had previously received a British visa for a chess tournament in Gibraltar.