Shohreh Bayat

Bayat was born in 1987 in Rasht, Iran.^[2][3] Her Jewish paternal grandmother emigrated to Iran from Baku, Azerbaijan during World War II. They kept their Jewish ancestry hidden. She became the Iranian girls under-12 champion in 1998.

Bayat completed a master's degree in natural resources engineering^[3]

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.^[3] She served as the chief arbiter of the Women's World Chess Championship 2020 (WWCC). A photograph of Bayat at the WWCC with her hijab around her neck generated controversy in Iran which enforces a strict Islamic dress code.^[4] The Chess Federation of Iran [fa] 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.^[5] In September 2020, she received confirmation from FIDE that she could referee under the English flag.^[3]

Bayat was awarded an International Women of Courage Award in 2021 for being a champion for women’s rights and ignoring the Iranian government threats.^[6]

Bayat is married and has family in Iran.^[7] 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.^[5]