A Saudi Athlete's Conflict—Rules or Religion

[cbayer]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444130304577559301858496894.html


Updated July 31, 2012, 8:43 a.m. ET

By DAVID ENRICH And ELLEN KNICKMEYER

Sixteen-year-old Wojdan Shaherkani strolled through the Olympic judo venue in a lacy, light-pink head scarf, accompanied by her father and unsure whether she would leave the Games a trailblazer or diplomatic casualty. WSJ's David Enrich discusses his chance meeting with Ms. Shaherkani. Photo: AP

Ms. Shaherkani and another woman are the first female members of Saudi Arabia's Olympic team, and their selection to compete in the Games was hailed, at least internationally, as a breakthrough for one of the world's most conservative Muslim countries. But even before Ms. Shaherkani's first fight Friday in the women's heavyweight judo tournament, that legacy is in jeopardy.

The International Judo Federation said last week that she needed to remove her head scarf, known as a hijab, for the match. Her father and Saudi officials have said she can't compete without her head covered. The federation and the Saudi Olympic Committee were locked in negotiations Monday.

Before the Games, so little was known about Ms. Shaherkani and her competitive history that the International Olympic Committee misspelled her name in its first news release.

more at link

[dmallind]

1. The real dichotomy here, as always, is "comply with rules or claim religious special privilege"

There really is no conflict between the religion and the sport, as she is under no compulsion to compete in this particular event, while she is, or is told she is anyway, under a compulsion to wear a headcovering.

So the only conflict here is between doing something she merely wants to do, or doing something she is told she must do. That's no more of a dilemma than me wanting to drive 60 in a 40 zone but those pesky cops insisting I can't.

But rather than get into the situation, as we all do every time we drive, knowing that we can't go 60 in a 40 zone and therefore not doing so (unless we want to risk getting punished for some strange reason), she's decided to spend a lot of money and effort getting a car incapable of doing less than 60 mph, put the key in the ignition and turned to disingenuously ask the cop "is it ok for me and me alone to go 60, because you see i bought this special car at great expense that only goes 60 or more, even though I know this is a 40 zone. But it is such a special car so why can't you let me drive with everyone else who knew the rules and bought cars that can go under 40?"

[cbayer]

2. This analogy is pretty good except it is missing one critical point.

If she, and everyone else in her community, believe that there are significant personal consequences for removing her headdress, then the analogy falls apart.

[dmallind]

3. And where is the similar compulsion to compete in judo competitions.

You'll note I expressed clearly that the difference is between a need (obviously one I disagree with, but accept that it's a need for her) and a want, which to me is no contest. That was the whole point of the rather wild analog of a car that absolutely cannot go below 60. She absolutely "can't" remove her hijab in public. So why then is she spending years of training and great expense - to someone - putting herself in a situation with rules that insist she do something she cannot do?

There are only two alternative explanations.

a) She is incredibly misinformed about rules, in which case we can ask this question of her national Olympic Committee and coaches

b) She intentionally wanted to set up a special case pleading, on site, to try and make it look as if this were a genuine unforeseen dilemma of conscience rather than, as it must be, an engineered controversy to stir up religious partisans.

Where is the real dilemma? This is an unequal choice between a duty and an entirely voluntary activity. To make it more clear perhaps, were I an observant Saudi Muslim woman I would no more seek to enter a competition that required a bare head than I would seek to enter a pork hot-dog eating competition or get a job at a brothel.

[cbayer]

4. The International Judo Federation just made the decision last week, presumably

because they had not been confronted with the question previously. I don't think she came into the games thinking it was going to be an issue. Her being there at all required a lot of arm twisting of the Saudi Arabian Olympic team.

Unless they have a concern about it creating a hazard or somehow giving her an unfair advantage, I can't imagine why they won't let her wear it.

[dmallind]

5. You'd think the use of strangleholds and chokeholds would make it a clear hazard AND an advantage

as all but the most blissfully ignorant could imagine the personal ramifications of ripping off a Muslim woman's hijab on global television as clearly as they could foresee the result and risk of unintentionally choking her with it.

The allowable garments are not a new issue, the rules simply do not specify every possible extra accoutrement to the typical judogi. I'm sure the rules do not specifically mention that Sikhs cannot wear the metal bracelet either, but it is an obvious safety issue. No doubt in strict Muslim countries the competitors are accustomed to the limitations of fighting with such headgear, but why should a Swede or Australian be put in the position of having to learn on the fly during a medal round?

[cbayer]

6. She's been competing prior to the Olympics, and I can find nothing that

indicates it has been a problem.

But the Judo Federation apparently agrees with you on this.

If it is technically unfeasible to accommodate her, then I can understand their position. But, except for what you are posting here, I have not seen anything from the Federation to support that.

[trotsky]

12. It's not missing that point.

People in the community have agreed that speed limits save lives. That's one of the reasons we have them. There are significant personal consequences for taking another life in a car wreck.

So you are wrong.

[cbayer]

7. Update - It's now being reported that a compromise has been reached.

She will be allowed to wear a modified headscarf, but it remains unclear whether this will be sufficient for the Saudis.

[Igel]

8. Houston had a similar kind of problem.

A Jewish school joined a mostly Xian league--this being Texas, I was surprised there were even enough students for a Jewish school. The school figured it had no chance of ever running into the Friday night playoff tradition. It was small, it was puny, and, well, Texas football is a kind of cult unto itself.

Then the school had a hellacious winning streak and was put in the Friday night playoff berth. All the playoff berths were Friday night. The school appealed to have the game moved to earlier in the day.

DU had some tussles over it, but while religious freedom was often cited it was true that the school had no right to play in the league, since it was a free association that the school had to be admitted to; and when it joined the league the school knew and accepted the rules. There was no compulsion to violate the sabbath.

In the end the league didn't change its policy and the school forfeited the game.

[cbayer]

9. We had quite the discussion about that in this group, but I thought the league

did relent in the end and changed the date of the game.

Am I misremembering that?

[cbayer]

10. Ah, I am thinking of a different situation involving a basketball team. Link below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/121812081

[cleanhippie]

11. She simply needs to choose which rules to follow: Olympic or Religious.

It's not "rules or religion", it's rules, period.