the Muslim victims. She said she "felt that you are using one of the most visible symbols of oppression for Muslim women in many countries for solidarity, and it also broke my heart". Chess championship boycott In 2016, Alinejad launched a boycott campaign against the 2016 women's chess world championship, to be held in February 2017 in Tehran, Iran. The campaign was incited by Nazí Paikidze, a Georgian-American chess player. Paikidze, a non-Iranian, refused to attend world championships in Tehran because according to Iran's religious law, female players would be forced to wear a hijab. Alinejad supported the Paikidze, and co-wrote an op-ed with Indian-American Asra Nomani in The Washington Post. Meeting with US Secretary of State In February 2019, Masih Alinejad met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said Secretary of State "thanked Ms. Alinejad for her bravery and continued dedication". Alinejad said they met for 35 minutes and she highlighted three areas. First, "Many Iranians want an end to the Islamic Republic. Opposition voices should be heard". Second, international community should focus on 40 years of human rights violations by the regime, and third, the Trump administration travel ban hurts human rights activists and students, not the regime. Recognition Awards AIB Media Excellence Award for Radio Farda's production "Victims of 88", Nov 2013 Inaugural Women’s Rights Award at the Geneva Summit, 2015 Freethinker Prize by Swiss Freethinkers Association, 2017 America Abroad Media award, Nov 2019 Moral Courage Award by American Jewish Committee (AJC), Jun 2022 Oxi Courage Award for her fight against Iran’s compulsory hijab, Oct 2022 Scholar-Statesman Award by Washington Institute for Near East Policy for her tireless promotion of women’s rights, freedom, and political change in her native land, Nov 2022 Global Impact Award, Dec 2022 Harassment Arrest and harassment of family members On September 23, 2019, Islamic Republic security forces arrested three of Alinejad's family members as retribution for her women's rights activism, according to Amnesty International. Alinejad's brother, Alireza Alinejad, was arrested in Tehran, while Hadi and Leila Lotfi, brother and sister of her former husband, Max Lotfi, were all arrested in the northern city of Babol by officials from the ministry of intelligence. Her parents, siblings, extended family and all relatives and associates who remained in their village, in northern Iran, were repeatedly harassed, threatened with loss of employment, and instructed to lure Alinejad to