Iranian chess champion banned for refusing head scarf gets a new start at SLU 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Dorsa Derakhshani has played many roles: child prodigy, television performer, one of the top young female chess players in the world and, most recently, a St. Louis University freshman.

But Derakhshani never asked for her most famous one: international newsmaker.

The 19-year-old Iranian chess champion was banned from competing in the name of her home country in February after she refused to wear a head scarf at an international competition. Iranian law requires women to wear head scarves in public.

Her story spread, quickly becoming a conduit in media outlets all over the world for the debate over Iran’s laws controlling what women wear.

But sitting on campus at SLU, where she started as a student this fall, Derakhshani said she doesn’t focus on the ban. Instead she pulls all-nighters to fit in her schoolwork and chess team practice.

“It shouldn’t have become such a big deal,” she said in an interview Wednesday, her head uncovered and long braids hanging down her back. “What I think is right to do, I do it. I try to keep my conscience clear and my mind at peace. I don’t know why some people have enough free time to worry about what I wear.” >>>