Tehran, Jan. 28 -- One of Iran's top-ranked female chess players, Sara Khadem, who recently competed in an international tournament without wearing a headscarf said she fled to Spain after refusing an order by Tehran to film an apology video.

25-year-old Sara Khadem, also known as Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, made headlines around the world when she appeared to play for a second day- Wednesday, December 28, at the Fide World Rapid and Blitz Chess championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, without a headscarf.

In the first week of January 2023, Khadem moved to Spain with her husband and young child following the events reportedly as a result of safety fears.

Iran threatened to exile Sara Khadem if she refused to film a video apology blaming the...