Tae kwon do world body bans hijab
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Muslim women who participate in competitions sanctioned by the World Taekwondo Federation will not be allowed to wear a hijab.The decision came yesterday as a result of a request for a ruling from the Canadian Taekwon-Do Federation after two young Muslim girls were banned from a competition last month in Longueuil, Que.
The girls were told they couldn’t participate unless they removed their head scarves for safety reasons. However, the incident sparked controversy over minority rights in Quebec.
The world federation indicated in a letter to the Canadian federation that it does not recognize any religion and would not make any accommodation for hijabs.
The world federation is the sport’s largest organization and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
The rule, which forbids wearing anything under protective head-gear, remains unchanged and will be in effect when the world championships begin on Friday in Beijing.
The competition is the first in a series to determine which athletes will compete in the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing in 2008.
The world federation also indicates in the letter that the IOC agrees with its decision.
The world federation is headquartered in Seoul and oversees world and Olympic tae kwon do competitions.
The Canadian federation says it will accept the ruling.
Last week, the International Taekwon-Do Federation, a separate entity which is not sanctioned by the IOC, announced it would temporarily accept competitors wearing a hijab until a committee could be formed to study the issue.
I personally think this is a ridiculous ban. What I think it is, is that someone is afraid that these women can shame them and kick their butts, all while wearing a dress that will completely cover their body and face. It must be that. Fear. Other wise they would simply state that they do not want to allow an unfair advantage but this is not the case they simply say they do not endorse any religion. Common sense says that The Hijab would give an unfair advantage to the opposing fighter, but I don’t think it has anything to do with this at all. They say no religion, but yet in recent times there seems to be alot of actions against the Muslim community and it is a shame that it comes down to this. If someone wants to wear a cross or a bandana there doesn’t seem to be any problems, but if a Muslim woman wants to wear her Hajib to battle at a Tae Kwon Do tournament all of a sudden there seems to be a big religion issue. If they don’t believe in any religions than they cannot ban any religion neither or this make them Hippocrates
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