Just adding fuel to this fire.

[kurlypink]

Judo Manitoba refused to allow Muslim girl to compete for wearing hijab

By The Canadian Press

WINNIPEG - A Judo Manitoba official reduced an 11-year-old girl to tears Saturday when he refused to allow her to compete in a tournament wearing a hijab, or Muslim head scarf.

While other children squared off in the match at a Winnipeg gym, Hagar Outbih

Comments

[kurlypink]

I agree with this. Even in soccer, it is dangerous for women to wear any headgear. In California, the only thing they're allowed to wear in their hair is an elastic.

I agree that there must be some kind of headgear that the girls can wear that is safe while competing.

Now, there is a Muslim school on my route to work everyday and we see girls wearing the full head/face covering and it is obvious by their body language/height, that they are about 14ish. What age do they start covering completely?

I've seen babies wearing hejab's in my neighbourhood (high Muslim population)

[purplelizzy]

In principle, I agree, religous symobilism has no place on the sports field. However the precedent has already been set by allowing sikh men to wear turbans during various sports, thus this safety ruling would seem to impact negatively more on woman than men. I could only find one report of a male in a similar situation ... it dates back to 1997 when a sikh boy was sent off a soccer pitch in New Jersey because he refused to remove his turban. However it was later decided he could wear it. I think I have also seen international cricketers wearing turbans. Now, why is that ok but not a hejab?

[kurlypink]

We knew a Sikh cyclist in SoCal. He had a special thing he wore when he rode. He said there is no reason for the full turban because he could not fit it under a helmet! It would be the same for other sports. The men wore the special skull cap.

He also explained about the khirpan (sp?), the ceremonial sword they are supposed to wear. Where I am from in Canada, there is a huge Sikh population and they made a huge stink about allowing the boys to wear the 12 inch sword to school. Now that is ridiculous in anyone's esteem but Hari (cyclist) said that it is only symbolic. He wore a small (1 inch) khirpan around his neck. There should never be the real thing. Ever.

I just have a real issue with cultural groups wielding their religious ecoutrements as political weapons.

But for Cricket, considering that the players barely get their whites dirty, I don't think a turban would be an issue!

[purplelizzy]

That's the way I have always viewed the hejab too but there are those Muslim women who wish to reclaim it or subvert the notion of it being oppresive or restrictive and who might say it is their right to choose to wear it, especially in a western country, and not be discriminated against as a result. (playing devil's advocate here a little bit).

[purplelizzy]

I don't think you can compare wearing jeans to work etc with the wearing of a hejab. Freedom of religion is protected by the law in most western countries but there is no comparable right to wear jeans! :)

[purplelizzy]

Oh well you go right ahead. :)

[purplelizzy]

I'll alert Fifa immediately!