Saudi female judo competitor allowed to wear Islamic headscarf in competition
The Saudi Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee and International Judo Federation have agreed that a Saudi Female judo competitor can wear a headscarf in competition at the Olympics.
Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani is one of just two women Saudi Arabia has sent to the 2012 Games in London. But she claimed she would only compete if she was allowed to wear an Islamic headscarf, or hijab. Originally judo officials refused, claiming it was dangerous, but now a compromise has been reached.
Razan Baker, a spokeswoman for the Saudi National Olympic Committee told Reuters of the agreement reached. "They agreed on a design and she will compete wearing this design," Baker said.
The IOC pushed Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei to end their bans on allowing women in the Olympics. All three countries have representatives in London.
The IJF's rules for the Olympics state that headgear can't be worn because of the danger it could cause. Obviously they made an exception in this case.
Shaherkani will compete in the heavyweight division on Friday.
Photo credit: Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty Images
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39 Comments:
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where is coverage of the equestrian events? i must work so i can't watch the olympics and hope that they will show the equestrian event. NBC and everyone else is ignoring these events where not only does the rider need to be fit, but the horse as well. i can't believe they slobber over PING PONG (not table tennis) and fencing and ignore the equestrians. that is why i have stopped watching NBC and the olympics. sheesh i can't even get Jay Leno because of this stuff. thankfully i have other cable channels and movies to watch instead
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hey man come to cambodia i watch the olympics on 3 differenct cable channels, all differents event on each channel.
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They are on NBCSports network.
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They are on NBCsports Network.
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For gods sakes! Can't she just take the damn thing off a match, How draconian, brainwashed
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Really? Do you believe in a god? If so, you have absolutely no room to speak.
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I agree 100%. Follow the rules or don't compete.
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We certainly wouldnt want to offend the muslims. Let change the name to the Sharia Olympics and make them even more happier ,,,,,,,,,,BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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you need some sensitivity training- oh I forgot they don't offer that to bigots and idiots
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You need some reality training. OHHHH! I forgot they don't issue enough brains to libtards for that do they??
If the mooooooslims want to play by the IOC rules then welcome them with open arms. If not then good bye and good riddance. there should be no special rules made for the mooooooooslims, or any other race, creed, blah, blah, blah. -
They are the IOC which stands for INTERNATIONAL Olympic committee. Not the American Olympic committee. Rules have to change according to traditions of the countries competing. I guess you would know that if you ever read the rules but they again if you can't spell a simple word like Muslim, one can't be expected to be well educated.
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Your the idiot for missing the whole point. If a person goes to a muslim country, that person is expected to observe the muslim customs. If they go somewhere else, they don't want to abide by rules or customs of other countries. Why should the world bow to muslims? They certainly don't try to get along with the rest of the world. On a lighter note. It probably kept the head gear to cover up the fact that it's a guy!! LMAO
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Problem is as a Christian, I get no special treatment....
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oh yeah, and I can't be sensitive about it either
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Well said!!!!!
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Look at her trainer/? walking around all westerned out, no dress, no facial hair but they make her wear that get up. She has a better mustache than I do
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Have you seen that woman's face? Now I know why the Arabs keep the face s of their women covered. If my marriage were arranged and I had to marry that. I force her to cover her face , also. Now it seems so clear. They don't fear another will covet their wife, they faer another will laugh.
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LOL!
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WOW wants to compete but dont want to follow the rules as everyone else has to do .crazy...and .......obd 1950 ... your the idiot.. Its Idiots like yourself ,that think the rules should be bent or broken just for youself and no one else..Also dont see no reason why you have to spout off at the mouth that everyone is a bigot and or Idiots, like I said your the only IDIOT...The rules are in place for everyone so dont cry just because you have to take your towel off your head. we know it stinks to... Have to love Fox Sports for this fine News....lmao
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So you woul agree that a Nun would have to leave her covering at the door, or a Pentecostal woman would have to reduce her traditional high hair, or must reliquish her long skirts, or an Amish would have to shave his beard.....
You getting my drift? This about what exactly for you and all the other posters who seem to be in agreement, w/you ? Are you so quick to downplay this woman's headscark because she possibly falls in a cat of rules while for others, you'd be perfectly A-ok with a lapse in them beause of comfort level?
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And this is coming from the same committee that wouldnt let Lochte wear a red, white, and blue grill at his medal ceremony....
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Well a scarf durring judo, I guess all the competition has to do is choke her with the scarf, How Stupid is this , people are really starting to turn my stomach, pretty much on a daily basis
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she sure is purdy!! at what age do they're women actually start shaving their facial hair? ....mow i know why they wear the scarf!!
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How come shes not wearing her scarf in the photo, ooooops thats the guy sorry!
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Wow, you are a bunch of ethnocentric, mental midgets. 1) In Muslim culture, many men and women believe that wearing a hijab protects women from unwanted male attention. It's not that they don't trust the women, it is that they don't trust the men. Honestly, I have to say that I can relate sometimes. Men in the US can be absolutely awful about treating women as sex objects. 2) It is more than a little bit ridiculous to pitch an unholy fit because Saudi women don't compete and then make it impossible for them to feel comfortable doing so. For this girl, not wearing a hijab would be like someone asking me to hike around a beach topless. While most of the world has no problem with that, I come from the only-second to Saudi conservative US and I've grown up to think that a woman's breasts are to be covered. If someone told me I couldn't go somewhere unless I went topless, I would refuse too.
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Get a grip...sensitivity training... That is what is WRONG with America. We have to be so sensitive to people all over the world so we don't offend anyone. Next thing you know it will offend people if I wear a shirt with a logo or caption from the American Cancer Society. If she just wants to wear a head scarff, how bout a "Harley" dew rag.. pitiful..just pitiful.
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With a face that looks like a camels rear, I'd make her cover it also. Most Arab women cover the face for that reason. Lack of good looking women, thats why they are forced to wed.
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Can someone please tell me why we keep bowing down to the Muslims. I just love it.
Us: Here are the rules, we've used these rules worldwide for decades.
Muslim: Oh I'm so sorry I'm Muslim, and you must change all the rules.
Us.: Oh, ok here you go. Are you happy now.?
Muslim: Yes, but only for the time being. -
Yet Ryan Lochte can't wear his diamond gate to the medal stand duh
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Forget the head gear, she needs to comb her face!!
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good one,Anita !!
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She is not breaking any rules, it says they agreed on a design and she will wear that one. It sounds like they came to a compromise to accomodate her religious rules and the competition rules I think that is in the spirit of the olympics. I am glad they found a compromise and even more glad that she is there; think of the history she's making for the women/girls in her country, too bad it's overshadowed by the scarf issue.
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Again, we let them get their way...are ;you kidding me? I am so tired of letting them have their own way. Why don't we just let them take over the country? Because what they want, they get...bunch of big cry babies...she will probably end up getting hurt from it falling off her head or hurting someone else...
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look at those eyebrows ! thick and hairy, i bet her whole body is covered in fir !! she needs a mask,also.
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If she is used to wearing her hajab during her practice then let her do so, but there should be any change in the Judo rules to allow for it. It is as vunerable as a gi for pulling or any other strategy used. No other special treatment.
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Don't get me started about the way women are treated in some of the Eastern countries. I have many friends living in the Mid East for one reason or another and I am always frustrated when we chat about the women. The women must be oppressed because the men can't act right or control themselves. So basically it's a woman's fault that men are/can be inappropriate in thoughts and actions?????? Perhaps then the men should be forced for centuries to walk around with blinders on or maybe the men should have to be oppressed and forced to stay at home, not participate in LIFE and cover themselves in horrible, hot outfits of one type or another! After all, it seems to be a problem with the men and not the women. Yet the women suffer for it?!?!?!?! However this is about the Olympics so I will get off that soap box and add that if her religious beliefs force her to be a certain way then perhaps she should stay at home and honor her beliefs there. Bending and rearranging rules to suit one person seems unrealistic and unreasonable. It's a shame for her though that once again she is expected to sacrifice because the men of her country are idiots. Maybe while she competes the men of her country/beliefs should cover their heads and not look or watch and allow her to live her life free.
