Muslim Boxer in the US Barred from Playing over Hijab

Rasa - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Monday expressed concern over a report that a 16-year-old Muslim boxer from Minnesota was barred from a match in Florida because she wears an Islamic head scarf, or hijab.

News ID: 425289

Date: 24 November 2016 - 23:17

RNA - Amaiya Zafar, from Oakdale, Minn., was reportedly barred at the last minute from a November 20 bout at the Sugar Bert Boxing National Championships in Kissimmee, Fla.

Her mother reported to CAIR that her daughter was able to register and weigh in, and was putting on her gloves just before entering the ring, when a tournament official allegedly told her she could not compete because of her hijab. Her opponent, in an act of solidarity, shared the belt she received for the "win" due to Zafar being disqualified.

"All athletes should be able to compete in their sport of choice without facing roadblocks based on outmoded and discriminatory policies,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper." We thank Ms. Zafar’s potential opponent for her principled act of solidarity.”

Hooper renewed CAIR’s call for the Switzerland-based International Boxing Association (AIBA) and USA Boxing to grant a religious exemption to current uniform regulations so that Zafar may wear hijab during competition.

Many international athletic organizations have already modified their rules and policies to account for the various religious needs of participants. For example, over the past few years, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) have all lifted their respective bans on religious headgear, including hijabs.

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