The waitress is warned not to return to Iran after racing without a hyjab

Sara Khadem participated in the Chess World Championship last week in Almati without hyjab.

According to a source close to the issue, Khadem has received numerous calls in which different individuals have warned him not to return home after the tournament.

At that, Khadem's relatives and parents, who are located in Iran, have also received threats.

Khadem, also known as Sarasadat Khademalshirah, arrived in Spain on Tuesday, the source said.

Last week it was reported that Khadem would not return to Iran and be transferred to Spain.

Meanwhile, organisers have decided to provide security with Kazakh police co-operation, resulting in four bodyguards deployed outside the Khadem hotel room.

Iran has been involved in demonstrations since mid-September, when the 22-year-old Kurdish girl Mahsa Ammini died in the detention of moral police, which stopped for “inappropriate agreements”.

Laws that apply mandatory hijab clothing have become a flash point during the riots, with a series of sportsmen competing abroad showing up without hyjab in public.

Khadem is ranked 804th in the world, according to the International Chess Federation website.

Meanwhile, the protests marked one of Iran's most courageous challenges since the 1979 revolution and have drawn Iranians from all spheres of life.

And women have played a prominent role, removing and in some cases burning hyjab.

Protesters are encouraged by what they have seen as a show of support from Iranian athletes.