Qatari women's basketball team withdraws from Asian Games over headscarves

[rug]

Members of Qatar women's basketball team walk off the court after withdrawing ahead of their match against Mongolia

By Danielle Elliot
September 26, 2014 4:28 PM

The motto of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, is "Diversity Shines Here," but basketball's governing body is not bending any rules to live up to the creed.

Prior to their first game on Wednesday, members of the Qatari women's basketball team were told they had to remove their white headscarves, which they wear in observance of their Islamic faith, because International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules do not allow “headgear, hair accessories, and jewelry.”

The women chose to forfeit the game instead. On Thursday, they officially withdrew from the tournament prior to their second scheduled game. The competition is the world's second-largest multi-sport competion, with about 9,500 athletes representing 45 countries.

Athletes competing in rowing, badminton and triathalon, have been wearing religious headscarves without incident because those sports' governing bodies allow them. Each sport at the Asian Games has to follow its governing body's regulations. The Qatari team was aware of FIBA's stance regarding hijabs but had hoped FIBA would make an allowance.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/qatari-women-s-basketball-team-withdraws-from-asian-games-over-headscarves-202810450.html

[ZombieHorde]

1. That is pretty funny to me for two reasons.

1. They think God needs them to wear hats. So random!
2. People take a game so seriously. Not just the players, but the rule makers too. It's like saying, "No socks during Yahtzee!"

[rug]

2. 1. Allah does not need them to wear hats.

Al-hijab is a symbol of the veil that separates humanity from Allah.

2. I solve the Yahtzee! problem by playing it only when nude.

[ZombieHorde]

3. If their religion doesn't require it,

why don't they just take them off for the game?

[rug]

4. Not every group of Muslims require it. In any event, God doesn't need them to wear it.

As to why these women didn't remove them, I expect they value their religion more than this basketball tournament.

I give them credit for this decision. Each of them must have put in many hours to make this team yet they still acted on their values.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. It's also the excuse men use to make women wear thermal insulation in 95+ degree weather.

I just got back from Disneyland. Saw some pretty depressing shit there.

I note that the men in said families don't wear such material, opting instead for shorts and t-shirts.
I also note that it's not a choice. Of all the families I saw, not a SINGLE example contained ONE female non-adherent, refusing to wear such bullshit. Every single female, in every single family wherein there was more than one female member, and any of them wear it, they ALL wear it. No exceptions. I actively looked for it, in crowds of thousands of people, for more than a week. Not one example.

I'll believe that it's a choice when I start seeing some individuals in such families, not adhering to these practices.

[rug]

14. Men always use excuses.

Doesn't make them true.

I won't be the one to tell women their actions are not the result of their choice.

[AtheistCrusader]

16. For the uniformity reason I specified and the single-gender application of it, I seriously question

whether one could consider that a 'choice'.

To be fair, my culture is full of such 'givens' that aren't really choices either, they are simply on other topics.

[cbayer]

5. I think the rule is ridiculous and based on prejudice.

shameful. Good for the women for taking a stand.

[rug]

6. I'd like to know the rationale for it.

It looks arbitrary since the other sports allow it.

[cbayer]

7. Other organizations have addressed this and concluded that it is not a problem.

I haven't yet heard a reasonable argument for not allowing this.

[DreamGypsy]

8. Here's the FIBA (we are basketball) rule...

...from Official Basketball Rules 2014:

4.4.2. Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players.

The following are not permitted:
▬ Finger, hand, wrist, elbow or forearm guards, casts or braces made of leather, plastic, pliable (soft) plastic, metal or any other hard substance, even if covered with soft padding.
▬ Objects that could cut or cause abrasions (fingernails must be closely cut).
▬ Headgear, hair accessories and jewellery (sic).

Sure, I can understand why certain types of "headgear" might be excluded because of possible injury to other basketball players, for example, this:

but these???

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Ld5EApfc7pMifQR3mEOMbA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/

I suppose a basketball player might get their thumb caught under a headscarf, while attempting to poke the opposing player in the eye, and suffer a sprain, but they could happen with shorts, a singlet, or a jersey if the target was a different body part.

I think the ladies should be allowed to play in their choice of attire.

[rug]

9. Thanks for finding that rule.

Having read it - and seen your pictures - you made a completely convincing argument.

[DreamGypsy]

10. Thanks, rug

And thanks for the original post.

[AtheistCrusader]

12. After a multi-year back and forth, the FIFA laws of the game allow for this in soccer, as of March.

(Football, if you please)

I propose a compromise. If the women want them to be allowed to wear, fine, require the men to wear them too. See how long that shit lasts.

'their choice'.

[Leontius]

13. My question is why do they wear them choice or coercion from society?

[AtheistCrusader]

15. Observation suggests coercion.

The uniformity of it in a family unit suggests so, and I have observed fathers 'laughing it off' as something they 'would get used to' at work.

Not terribly different from the 'ankle length dresses' sects on the Christian side of the fence.

[goldent]

17. I wonder if eye protection is allowed

like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore?

I suspect this problem will be quickly fixed.