KARACHI: Wojdan Shaherkani, the judoka from Saudi Arabia who is one of the first women to represent her country in the Olympics, has been ordered not to wear the hijab, or head scarf, during competition.
The International Judo Federation (IJF) says Saudi Arabia's first female athletes selected for the Olympics will not be allowed to wear a headscarf during competition.
“The Saudi Arabian athlete will take part in judo and she will fight according to the principle and spirit of judo, so without a hijab,” said IJF president Marius Vizer following Thursday's draw.
“In judo we use strangleholds and chokeholds so the hijab could be dangerous,” IJF spokesman Nicolas Messner said. “The Japanese martial art does not recognize differences in things like politics or religion and judges competitors only on their level of judo,” he added.
Shahrkhani is one of two women from Saudi Arabia competing at the Olympics, the other being 800-meter runner Sarah Attar. They are the first Saudi women to compete at the games, and Saudi Arabia was the last participating country to never have sent a woman to the Olympics.
But Vizer's statement could jeopardize Shahrkhani's participation, as the hijab is required in Saudi Arabia. The country's Olympic federation has not yet commented on the ruling.
Shahrkhani is competing in the over 78kg category, which will be contested August 3rd. She drew Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica in her first match.
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