Saturday, March 10, 2012

UN Ask To FIFA For Giving Permission At the Use of Hijab

UN Ask To FIFA For Giving Permission At the Use of Hijab

United Nations (UN) asked the World Football (FIFA) to allow Muslim women wearing headscarves or veils that have been designed specifically when playing sport.

As reported by News ABNA, Wilfried Lemke, special advisor to UN Secretary-General sport, Ban Ki-moon, wrote a letter to FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, expressed support for the initiative presented by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that the players' own the right to wear the veil "that can be opened easily as using Velcro on the games and the official FIFA competitions.

Chairman of the AFC, Zhang Jilong, asking for wearing the headscarf ban may be revoked at the end of January, claiming that new designs can avoid neck injuries.

"Changes in the rules would eliminate the barriers that can impede women and girls to participate in football and will be a positive example," Lemke said. "That will give the message that every player's daughter, from top to grass-roots level, have the freedom to choose to wear or not wear this outfit for a certain part in the field."

According to him, permit the use of the veil that will give great opportunities to athletes who are Muslim women to demonstrate that wearing the headscarf is not an obstacle to excel in life and sport. "And it will contribute to challenge gender stereotypes and bring a change in mentality," added Lemke.

Wearing the hijab is banned by FIFA in 2007 for safety reasons, but both Zhang and Lemke argues, the latest design has eliminated the potential risk of serious injury.

"Personally I have seen the new designs with velcro at the neck connection, which will be released if the head covering was pulled, ensuring the safety of the players," said Zhang.

AFP news agency reported, the International Football Association Board, the makers of the highest level of soccer rules, scheduled to meet on Monday in the UK to discuss the proposal at the Annual Meeting-126.

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