\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Sarah](\"http:\/\/images.alarabiya.net\/95\/52\/640x392_61996_154297.jpg\" "\\"Sarah")
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Sarah Benkirane has been barred from refereeing while wearing her hijab. (File Photo)<\/p>\n
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By JAMES M. DORSEY<\/span><\/p>\n AL ARABIYA<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t<\/div>\n \t<\/p>\n <\/span> \t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n A dispute between FIFA and Iranian and Jordanian women soccer A Canadian soccer referee, Sarah Benkirane, was barred this week by The 15-year-old referee had been refereeing games on Montreal\u2019s West \u201cI always felt like I was \u201cIt\u2019s just a sign of my modesty and how I choose to express myself. I The banning of Ms. Benkirane comes after Iran earlier this month lost The agreed cap covers a women\u2019s hair but not the neck and ears. Three Jordanian women players were also banned for wearing the hijab.<\/p>\n Iran charged that FIFA\u2019s decision to disqualify its women\u2019s team constituted an attack on all female Muslim players. <\/p>\n Prince Ali Bin Talal, a half-brother of Jordanian King Abdullah and FIFA Mr. Benkiran said she has filed a complaint with the Quebec association. The Lac St. Louis Regional Soccer Association asserted it was acting in \u201cThe situation is clear,\u201d the statement read. \u201cWearing a hijab is not The federation\u2019s communications director, Michel Dugas, said the group The right to wear a hijab has long been a controversial issue in Canada In February 2007, five Canadian teams walked out of a soccer tournament Muslim women have been allowed to wear the hijab in other parts of Canada, including Ontario and British Colombia.<\/p>\n (James M. Dorsey, formerly of The Wall Street Journal, is a senior Dispute over hijab in women\u2019s soccer in Canada, as Muslim youth referee barred Wednesday, 22 June 2011 Sarah Benkirane has been barred from refereeing while wearing her hijab. (File Photo) By JAMES M. DORSEY AL ARABIYA A dispute between FIFA and Iranian and Jordanian women soccer players over the right to wear religious Muslim headdresses…
players over the right to wear religious Muslim headdresses during
matches is expanding as it spreads across the Atlantic.<\/p>\n
Quebec\u2019s Lac St. Louis Regional Soccer Association because she wears a
hijab, a religious headdress that covers a woman\u2019s hair, neck and ears
in accordance with conservative Muslim dress code.<\/p>\n
Island and Vaudreuil for the past two years but was informed by
association officials this week that she had been barred because of
world soccer body FIFA rules prohibiting religious garments on the
pitch.<\/p>\n
equal growing up in Canada, so I don\u2019t understand why they\u2019re going to
take this right away from me,\u201d Ms. Benkirane, who has worn a hijab since
she was 12, told Canadian broadcaster CBC.<\/p>\n
thought we were free to practice religion in this country if you\u2019re not
hurting anyone else, and I\u2019m not hurting anyone else,\u201d Ms. Benkirane
said.<\/p>\n
its chance of reaching the 2012 Olympics when its qualifying match
against Jordan was cancelled because the Islamic republic\u2019s women soccer
team appeared on the pitch wearing a hijab rather than a cap that had
originally had been agreed with the Iranian Football Federation (IFF). <\/p>\n
Religious women players have charged that the cap violates Islamic dress
code.<\/p>\n
vice president has said he is seeking to resolve the dispute between
Iran and the soccer body. Prince Ali was elected to his FIFA post on a
platform that emphasized women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n
Ms. Benkirane insists that rules have to be adapted as society changes.
The Quebec federation has advised Ms. Benkirane to address her
complaint directly to FIFA.<\/p>\n
accordance with rules set out by the Quebec Soccer Federation. For its
part, the Quebec federation said in a statement that it was upholding
FIFA\u2019s rule 4, which prohibits religious statements in team uniforms. <\/p>\n
allowed on Quebec\u2019s soccer fields just as necklaces, earrings, rings are
prohibited, and we will follow the rule until FIFA says otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
could not make an exception for Ms. Benkirane because that would create
an untenable situation in which a referee wearing a hijab would have to
tell players that they can\u2019t do the same.<\/p>\n
with some segments of Canadian soccer supporting women who wear the
hijab. <\/p>\n
in Quebec, because a Muslim girl was ejected for wearing a hijab. <\/p>\n
researcher at the National University of Singapore\u2019s Middle East
Institute and the author of the blog, The Turbulent World of Middle East
Soccer. He can be reached via email at: questfze@gmail.com)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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