Muslim girl kicked off soccer team for not removing hijab

Originally Posted by JammerLea

I wonder if it's because the ref was Muslim as well that he felt he could speak out about it? I could imagine some other refs might not have brought it up in the possibility that they'd get "Well, you just don't like Muslims!" thrown in their face.

This is a possibility, too. She may have been allowed to play by other refs in the tournament for the second reason you cited. They could claim "rules are rules" until they were blue in the face, but they would have still been labeled haters.

Now, the reaction to the ref who DID take a stand was uncalled for. Forfeiting the game because he was right? Blah's correct. The game should have been continued with another player, then a formal protest submitted. He knows what the hijab means--probably more than any other ref, and STILL he asked for it to be removed.

It's possible he WAS concerned for the girl's safety. One good grab of the hijab, and the girl can be strangled.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Bernard Black

It reminds me of that case about flight attendants who wanted to be able to wear hijabs and veils, yet christians couldn't wear small crosses. We all adhere to the same kind of restrictions.

The problem is: the hijab is considered by many NOT to be a religious symbol, but rather a cultural one.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by koifox

You can't strangle someone with that any more than you could with a t-shirt. Like any other shirt, a grab could choke you for a second and leave you winded and offbalance, maybe haul you off your feet if it's vicious enough with one mean landing on your back/head. But last I heard shirts weren't banned as safety calamities. (Aside from the brasilians who rip them off at every opportunity)

You can strangle someone with a t-shirt....

But, my point was, since he was a Muslim, maybe he feared that someone WOULD get a good hold of it on purpose and try to hurt her. But, it's not the fact he did it that's the point--it's the reaction afterwards.

How ya doing, buddy?

What? You mean like reverse-discrimination? The ref was Muslim himself.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?