Former official: 81 Iranian athletes sought refuge in other countries

Iran’s former Deputy Minister of Sports says that 81 Iranian athletes have sought refuge in other countries, with 24 of them being women.

Iranian chess player Sara Khadem participated in a World Cup event in Kazakhstan in December 2022, without wearing the headscarf, which is compulsory for women in Iran. In July 2023, the 26-year-old chess grandmaster was granted Spanish citizenship.

Abdulhamid Ahmadi told Jamaran news outlet: “80% of a selected portion of Iranian society have expressed a desire to emigrate.”

The former official also attributed the desire to emigrate to sanctions imposed against Iran, saying they have significantly impacted all economic and social aspects of people’s lives.

Ahmadi stressed: “Retain champion and elite athletes within our country [Iran], it’s crucial to address the economic challenges within the sports community.”

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