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 7 of 32)
1-20-2011 @ 3:56PM
Rich said...Be careful...she may have a explosive under her scarf....
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 4:33PM
yomama said...ew Rich. nobody told you to read this article and be an ignorant RACIST. so go read something about being LESS ignorant. kay? bye.
1-20-2011 @ 4:09PM
Joe Thyme said...Good for you Jessica... Very well said !!!!
The great USA was founded on freedom basis (all kind of freedom), and now because there are few extremists (the Muslim world is a 1.5 billion people and the extremists are probably less than 0.00001% if that) who are abusing the religion, we classify the entire religion and its people as "bad guys". Should they say the "Christians" are fighting them becasue the majority of the American soldiers in Iraq are Christians??? (By the way they don't). We are helping them in destroying our values by going in the direction they want us to go (as Debdornack and Shawneen did). To fight extremists and terrorists, we need to hold on our values and not crack under their pressue. We need to discriminate less, and accept more, then we will defeat them because they lose their argument. As far as the other comments that American are not welcomed in the Arab and/or Muslim world, I would like to ask them when was it the last time that they visited an Arab or Muslim country. I lived there and never had a problem, on the contrary, they were very welcoming people....
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1-20-2011 @ 4:03PM
rock said...As a baseball officails we are constantly aware of items that can cause injury. A case in point are religious medals. Thay can be worn, but they must be under the uniform & must be taped to the body so as not to injure the wearer or other players. The referree did the right thing. A head scarf can be very dangerous.
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1-20-2011 @ 4:01PM
nyblonde777 said...DONT LIKE IT MUSLIMS? GO BACK TO WHERE U CAME FROM AND DONT LET THE DOOR HIT U IN THE A_ _ . TOO BAD US AMERICANS ARE PUTTING UP WITH THIS CRAP, DONT LIKE IT? THESE ARE OUR RULES, GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY AND BLOW YOURSELVES UP!!! SO DISRESPECTFUL PEOPLE WHAT NERVE AFTER THEIR RACE DESTROYED INNOCENT LIVES. TAKE OBAMA WITH YOU.
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1-20-2011 @ 4:38PM
yomama said...YOUR MAD RUDE AND RACIST. OH. I UNDERSTAND NOW . YOUR BLONDEEEE.
1-20-2011 @ 4:02PM
peppie said...When a person becomes a citizen of a country, that person is obligated to obey customs of that country. Practicing foreign customs in ones home is one thing, but forcing their customs on American customs is wrong. Respect the country you live in and follow the customs.
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 4:02PM
cecil sealy said...This is not a question of religious freedom, nobody has asked her not to pray to a religious/professed/ leader, who questionably, has asked followers to destroy the infidel and innocent bystanders, who wishes to oppress them, or kill yourself and your young men, in the name of a faith, that promises a reward in heaven of virgins and glory upon death. The cultural outfit in these times of heighten hostility and suspicion in a world of increased terror is inappropriate and dangerous, when the full garment is worn. We cannot know for sure if a full grown man is beneath it with gun at hand. Save the costume for social and religious family events.
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1-20-2011 @ 4:27PM
tbone1013 said...This is not a religious issue, it is a safety issue. Just as rings bracelets, and ear rings. I officiate sports, people either choose to abide by the rules or choose not to play.
Simple Enough!
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 4:00PM
Chaz Goodman said...When women from other countries and cultures travel to the Midddle East, they are expected to follow the laws and rules of their land. And I don't see a problem with this practice. What I do have a problem with is the double standard. As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the romans do". If I ask someone to take their shows off when they enter my home, and they don't want to take them off, don't come in. It's a pretty simple philosophy.
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 5:59PM
Denise said...As a ref and parent of a girls bball league this is NOT an issue of discrimination but of safety. When the players go up for a layup or get a rebound and try to go up to score there is a real chance of that headgear getting snagged and snapping the wearers neck, especially if it has been secured with bobby pins. This is the same reason necklaces, over sized t-shirts, bandanas and loose hanging eyeglass straps are prohibited. The ref was right in the instance. As stated in the article there is a safer alternative that tears away in those cases-she should invest in one. Other girls have to get hair ties that conform to the rules (no metal/plastic/no earrings) so where is it unfair to expect everyone to be safe?
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1-20-2011 @ 4:12PM
Olivia said...We as a nation should try to understand and learn from those different from ourselves instead of being too quick to condemn!
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1-20-2011 @ 4:02PM
sandra said...What is a cilt Kenneth? Also people, we are talking about a 12 year old child, she is only doing what her culture and parents are teaching her, leave her alone. What is it was your child, would you want her to be excluded because she has a zit?
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1-20-2011 @ 4:05PM
Carolyn said...When people say "Act American" they really mean, "act like a White Christian person of European descent." Unless any of the people posting are of Native American descent, then you're an immigrant too! America is a constantly changing entity that is influenced by the people who are a part of it. It's a beautiful thing called 'progress'. What's so horrible about change? For people panicking about language changes, English is still one of the most widely used languages of the world. It's become the lingua franca; it's not disappearing! It makes me sad to see so many bigoted people posting on one site.
Oh, and the hijab IS a religious symbol. Muslim law states that men and women should dress modestly, and the hajib is a way for women to 'cover up'. And even as a Christian, there are days that I wouldn't mind wearing one. :)
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1-20-2011 @ 4:06PM
Don Davenport said...This wasn't about relegion, it is about SAFETY for the girl... Only Muslims want to make it something that it isn't and that is that. I guess Muslims are just one sided and prejudice alwlays wanting it one way... Just like building a Masque on the site of 911 in NY. Always one way and using relegion as an excuse to hide there hatred.
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1-20-2011 @ 4:06PM
Jim Pickard said...Wise up..it is just more infiltration and attempts to embarass us as americans...make up your mind..they are on the move and we better find a way to get back our country.
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1-20-2011 @ 4:17PM
donna said...My son can't play with a wrist watch on. He gets called off the floor by ref for being out of uniform. Chaps my ass to see special favors given. This is out of uniform. When she signed up her parents should of ask is the hijab not part of the uniform??? Oh then she can't play. But once again no rules here just bend and flex to every possible needs there are. Hey here's a thought...When your playing basketball and your not following uniform codes then YOU change. Playing basketball is a priviledge not a right. Your hijab is not religious but preference. Shame on this league for not respecting the rights of all the players who have to wear the right uniform to play.
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1-20-2011 @ 4:07PM
MIKE said...These are the people who continue to put their religion IN OUR FACE and they wonder why they are hated....perhaps a CATHOLIC should wear a CRUCIFIX the size of a dinner plate around his neck during a basketball game and see what is said...
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1-20-2011 @ 4:08PM
Don Davenport said...This wasn't about relegion, it is about SAFETY for the girl... Only Muslims want to make it something that it isn't and that is that. I guess Muslims are just one sided and prejudice alwlays wanting it one way... Just like building a Masque on the site of 911 in NY. Always one way and using relegion as an excuse to hide there hatred.
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 4:09PM
Don said...How is this girl 13 and in high school?
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