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British Muslim Girl Kicked out of French Judo Tournament Because of Headcover
LONDON,
June 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – A 9 year-old British
Muslim girl was kicked out of a friendly judo tournament in France
because she wears the traditional Islamic headcover, Al-Quds Press
reported Friday, June 28, 2002.
The
British team, who came to France to participate in the tournament in a
province north east of Paris, withdrew from the hall as an act of
solidarity with their colleague.
The
winners among them refused to accept their medals and returned them to
the organizers in a show of resentment and anger at the expulsion of
the Muslim girl from the contest, the paper said.
Coach
of the British team Li Davos said that he was surprised and shocked
when he heard the decision, adding that 9-year-old Zeinab practices in
England without any problems.
“This
is supposed to be a friendly tournament, and this is the first time in
7 years of judo competitions that something of the sort has
happened,” he added.
Gill
Limousine, head of the tournament, said in an interview with the
British newspaper, Muslim News, that the decision to expel Zeinab was
based on the fact that wearing a headcover is against the rules since
it may choke the player.
According
to the paper, when told that Zeinab faced no problem while playing
with a headcover, or hijab, in England, he said that the French laws
forbid wearing headcover when practicing judo, although he failed to
state any of these laws.
“Zeinab
wears her scarf in a way that makes it impossible to stifle her,”
Davos said.
“The
real reason she was not allowed to participate is her religion,” he
said, adding that one French official told him that there is a current
campaign in France against wearing the traditional Islamic headcover,
in an attempt to prevent religious propaganda.
“When
Zeinab was prevented from participating, I called the whole team to
tell them the news, and when they knew about it, they lined up and
refused to participate,” he added.
Those
who have played and won decided to return their medals to support
Zeinab, he added.
“Even
French children who were participating in the tournament expressed
their sorrow and compassion with Zeinab, and they told her that ‘it
was not their fault’,” he said.
“I
was extremely sad and angry when I was not allowed to participate in
the tournament because I was veiled,” said Zeinab, who has the red
belt.
“I
have practiced for so long for this tournament,” she added.
French
laws tolerate other religious symbols, especially the Jewish skull cap
(kippah) which the French do not view as running counter to their
laws. This is unlike the hijab which has caused several Muslim girls
to be expelled from schools and universities, in a breech of all human
rights.
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