Father Loses 2 Young Children In Tornado
Why It's Hard To Get Along With Your In-Laws
Muslim Girl Back on Basketball Court After Being Benched for Wearing Headscarf
Filed under: In The News, Religion & Spirituality
A CBS Baltimore TV station reports a referee pulled Maheen Haq, a seventh grader from Hagerstown, Md., out of the Jan. 15 game, saying her headwear posed a safety threat. However, the girl was allowed to play the second half wearing the hijab after a league administrator granted her a religious exemption.
"I was upset a little bit 'cause I really wanted to play and I enjoy playing basketball," Maheen tells CBS.
But her mother says there was more to it.
"My daughter's heart was broken and I didn't want to break other hearts, as well," Anila Haq tells ABC.
Maheen was only able to go back on the court after her parents assumed liability for any injuries that might occur as a result of the hijab.
The team volunteered to forfeit the game, and parents of her teammates are expressing their outrage with the situation.
"We were very upset when we heard about it because she has been able to play the entire time and there's never been a problem," Connie Cline, a teammate's mother, tells CBS.
But officials from the Mid-Maryland Girls' Basketball League say the referee was just doing what he had to do, because there was no request on file that would allow Maheen to wear the scarf.
There is now.
"He was right to do what he did," Daphnie Campbell, league coordinator, tells CBS.
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tells the Huffington Post there are hijabs with tear-away strips designed for sports that the girl could wear. He says cases like these can usually be solved with cooperation from both sides.
The team's coach says he regrets the incident.
"I do feel that some people were offended or emotions were hurt, and that's not what we're here for," Mark Hershner tells CBS. "We're here to learn sports and maybe some life skills along the way."
The basketball league is now specifying in its bylaws that any exceptions to the uniform rules need to be put in writing by the child's parent, Campbell tells ABC.
"In no way, shape or form are we trying to discriminate against her," Campbell tells the network.
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ReaderComments (Page 6 of 32)
1-20-2011 @ 3:44PM
Patricia said...The coach should have known better. It's already February and he didn't know one of his students was muslim and had to wear a hijab.
This is not an item of clothing that could pose a threat to either team.
Good for him for overturning her sitting out the game. A big "pin-head" to him for making her sit out half the game in the first place.
I'm just saying .. . .
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 4:32PM
VW Kellogg said...In softball the players were not allowed to wear hood sweatshirts for safty reasons just as the scarf could pose as a safty hazzard.
You don't see NBA members of the muslim faith demanding that they have to wear their izar or even demand that they have to wear a dishdasha, abaya or a kurta while they play.
To me this is some one who is forcing their culture onto others, by insisting on wearing a garment during an athletic event, that has nothing to do with their teams uniform. This is truely some one making a religious statement,which has no place in a sporting event.
1-20-2011 @ 3:43PM
pacmansw said...This is out of hand now. If you want to play sports wear the approved uniform, action sports have the head uncovered for safety from heat stress. When I go to another country I HAVE to conform to their norms wheather as a tourist or as a military member. If you want to drive here, uncover your face while driving. If you want to shop here uncover your face while in the store. If you want to live here, adapt to our culture. Show your religious zeel at home and on sabath like everyone else. If you can't handle the customs of the USA, don't move here and try to keep your customs solidly intact. We fought for the right of freedom, not this overly political correct crap of fear. And if you want to live here, learn and SPEAK ENGLISH.
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1-20-2011 @ 5:18PM
Tolerance said...Your so wrong. America is a "melting pot" of different cultures and ethnicities. Diversity is what America was built on. The intolerant must learn to suck it up and tolerate. Don't give people that "learn to speak English" junk. People have the right to speak however they want.
1-20-2011 @ 5:30PM
Gina said...Tolerance you are absolutely right, everyone has the freedom to speak the way they want. However, when my family and I immigrated from Cyprus (legally), we learned English. We didn't force people to learn Cypriot so that we can fill out legal forms or communicate with people and we adapted the American culture because this was our new home. We didn't ask for handouts or special treatment. We knew what we were getting into and we are more than happy to be American!
1-20-2011 @ 6:34PM
Maggie said...To Tolerance: Comments like yours is exactly the reason this Country is going further and further to HELL!!!!
1-20-2011 @ 8:22PM
homeimps said...I certainly agree that everyone who wants to live in the US should learn to speak (and write) English and this includes a lot of the "Americans" posting here. It discourages me to see what a lot of racist, uneducated, semi-literate fools we see on these websites. BTW, if you want to take jabs at people who come here and get on welfare and refuse to even speak English, how about the Mexicans? A far higher percentage of ALL other immigrants come here just to have a better way of life and they are mostly hard-working people who don't just want to sponge off the system.
1-20-2011 @ 3:44PM
ROSEMATT said...If the official thinks it is a safety issue (and there is a valid point to be made about that) then the girl has one of two choices-she can take the hijab off or she can sit. Imagine if someone fell on that scarf if it came off during a rebound, You can bet that the school will be sued. They still may be. A prior post had a fair point. Now I guess Amish basketball players can wear stovepipe hats, sikh basketball players can wear turbans, and Eastern Orthodox Christians can wear capes on the court. The only difference is that those groups don't fight the referee's decision. Sorry, this girl is being selfish and the support group of CAIR and others are using her as a tool to push their agenda.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:45PM
Waldo said...Religious freedom is a right for every American. As an American I respect your right to dress as you wish and pray where you wish. Playing sports is optional and if your religious beliefs don't allow you to conform don't play. It seems that this is the only country that protects the rights of a few over the rights of the majority.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:50PM
pattz15 said...I think the basketball official was exactly right.
She lives in America now and should abide by our laws and customs. If she doesn't like it tell her parents to take her back to her own country. I don't understand all the people who want to come here but don't want to live as we do. I I moved to .another country I wouldn't expect to be treated any differently than the locals. it's a joke.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:47PM
craig said...When someone moves to our country they need to assimilate into our culture, not to expect our culture to change to suit their belief system. As Teddy Roosevelt said, American first, if they want to hyphenate their origin, make American first or they are welcome to leave. This is not about religion, no one is telling the girl she can't practice her religion, it's about our culture and respect for our once great country.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:46PM
K said...The article does say "there are hijabs with tear-away strips designed for sports that the girl could wear" this should no longer be an issue. If you read the article the referee was correct in doing what was right. Next time her parents I am sure will have the right uniform for her to wear. the rules are in place for safety, I am sure if anyone is hurt they would be the first to sue someone though. It's a shame in this day and age this is even an issue anymore.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:47PM
Delicious said...I suggest making a dress code for all basketball games. The players would either dress according to the code, or not be allowed to play. Stop making exceptions for Muslims. " When in Rome, do as the Romans do." (and if you don't LIKE Rome, go somewhere else).
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1-20-2011 @ 3:50PM
Hattie Crabtree said...Kudos to the French gov't ( who are stuck with all tem) for trying to ban the ugly scarves.Paris has over a millon Muslims.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:53PM
badellis said...MAKE HER WEAR A BALL CAP LIKE THE REST REST OF THE KIDS DO,,,,HERE IN AMERICA.
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1-20-2011 @ 8:45PM
Willie McMillie said...BACKWARD!
1-20-2011 @ 3:52PM
Tom Thornburg said...The head gear started in the war in Bosnia. A Muslim cleric commanded muslim woman to wear the scarfs so the Muslim snipers who were also shooting women and children could identify their own people. Its really that simple, before that there was not really anyone wearing them.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:55PM
rick said...Nobody tell the nudists or blind, okay?
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1-20-2011 @ 3:56PM
MRL said...If they (Muslims or any immagrant) can't follow our rules they should go back where they came from. This is America they need to speak English and follow the rules like the rest of us. These people seem to think the rules need to change for their benefit.
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1-20-2011 @ 3:57PM
Ra said...I don't think it is discrimination at all, it's a safety concern. Anyone that has ever played basketball (which I have) knows that you are not allowed to wear ANYTHING other than the issued uniforms. What I think the real issue is that it wasn't addressed earlier in the season and allowances made at the START of the season rather then waiting to a playoff game which is devastating to be benched during after working so had through out the season.
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