Washington : The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on the Switzerland-based International Boxing Association (AIBA) to grant a religious exemption to its uniform regulations so that a teenage Muslim boxer in Minnesota may wear her religious hijab at a match on Saturday.
In a letter seen by the International Islamic News Agency (IINA), CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad told AIBA Acting Executive Director William Louis-Marie that AIBA and USA Boxing prohibited Amaiya Zafar, an American Muslim boxer, from taking part in the Golden Gloves competition in Duluth, Minnesota in September 2015.
Zafar wears a hijab and covers her arms and legs in accordance with her religious beliefs. “More recently, USA Boxing again informed Ms. Zafar that she would not be permitted to participate in an upcoming competition on Saturday, October 22 at St. Cloud Boxing & Wrestling Club because of her religious attire,” the letter said.
“We believe that AIBA’s rigid and inflexible uniform regulations fail to take into account the diversity of individuals who participate in boxing competitions worldwide. In particular, the failure to include sensible exemptions and accommodations to the uniform requirements unfairly excludes a significant group of Americans who adhere to daily religious dress practices, such as individuals of the Jewish, Sikh, and Muslim faith.” Awad added: “Such static and exclusionary rules are no longer tenable in a country that was founded upon religious freedom and tolerance.”
CAIR’s letter noted that many international athletic organizations have already modified their rules and policies to account for the various religious needs of participants. “For example, over the past few years, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) have all lifted their respective bans on religious headgear, including hijabs. We, therefore, ask that you immediately revise your uniform rules and guidelines so that individuals, such as Ms. Zafar, may fully and equally participate in boxing competitions worldwide.”
Last year, CAIR welcomed a decision by USA Boxing to request a waiver to AIBA’s policy preventing Muslim women and girls from taking part in competition while wearing hijab. To date, neither CAIR nor the teen’s family have been informed of any action being taken on that request.—-AG/IINA
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