MOSCOW, September 25 (RIA Novosti) – Rules on religious head coverings in sports are back in the international spotlight after the Qatar women’s basketball team announced its decision to withdraw from the Asian Games after being refused permission to wear the hijab.
The news about the team's possible withdrawal started spreading on Wednesday, after Qatar forfeited its match against Mongolia.
Qatar was scheduled to play Nepal on Thursday afternoon, but announced its decision to leave the games earlier.
The 2014 Asian Games, officially known as XVII Asiad, is being held in Incheon, South Korea, from September 19 to October 4. More than 9,500 athletes from 45 countries, including 3,678 women, came to compete in 36 sports.
Although many sporting federations allow head coverings to be worn during the Asian Games, basketball's international governing body, FIBA never issued such a permission.
FIBA's strict rules drew international attention in July, when two male Sikh basketball players from India were told to take off their turbans during the Asia Cup in China.
In September, following the numerous religious discrimination claims, FIBA said that it will launch a two-year trial phase allowing the players to wear head coverings at some competitions, but as for now the exception will only apply to national-level events.
In 2015, the organization will review the first results of the trial period and decide on whether to allow further testing at the lowest official international level. If the testing is successful, a new rule, allowing the religious covering at all international basketball events, may come in effect after the 2016 Olympics.
Football's governing body FIFA lifted its ban on religious head covers in 2012, after finding no threat to safety.
