Lovelyish

Hell, a lot of places I know make excepts for religious wear for people. So why not here? And it seems like they have for the males, so why not the females? 

That is horrible!!! Ughh that is sooo stupid!! 

Well, not all Muslim countries require that women cover their hair.  However, I see no reason to exclude this team for that reason.  It seems rather silly, unless they feel they are more likely to get heat stroke or something, IDK.  But still, let them play it’s bad enough this is law in Iran to begin with, the Olympics don’t have to also take away their right to play sports at the Olympics.

That saddens me, truly. These women are following everything they’ve been brought up on, and staying with the appropriate coverings in society and they’re banned?… Really? If they’re allowed in taekwondo, they should be allowed in other sports too, no questions asked.

Let them play!!! 

Aren’t they punished if they disobey their religion’s rules and don’t wear head scarves? What a no-win situation. 

This is infuriating.  What the fuck is wrong with the people who gave the ban a green light?  Are they STUPID?!

I seriously don’t know what to say.  Is there some way we can fight against this for/with those women?  I do assume they’re going to fight back, I hope?

This is devastating and really, really shocking. I hope this decision will be reversed. It’s truly a shame.

Wow, a Lovelyish article I can get behind! I had no idea this shit was happening, but it’s morally deplorable. 

let them play

OMG what a load of bull
thanks for posting this
and I like the way you write, too
mad props, girl

As a soccer player, I think FIFA is being RIDICULOUS. Seriously, what the hell?! These women are following their beliefs, they’re not shoving their religion down anyone’s throat, which off the original article I read, was the biggest reason FIFA disqualified them. The team has already revised their uniforms once so that they (thought) they would be within qualifications.

Also, as long as the headscarves have no metal in them and body-skimming (which they are), they’re completely safe. When the referees check each player before games, they make sure that there’s no jewelry, and no metal in the hair– no bobby pins, no metal clips on ponytail holders or head bands, none. The reason is if a ball comes in contact with it, the force is enough to cut open your head (it has happened before in my league, fortunately not to my team though). If the scarves weren’t body-skimming, I could maybe see how a referee would be concerned about it catching on something, but off the picture those head covers aren’t about to get caught on anything.

it doesn’t seem fair, but the should’ve known the uniform dress code policy before entering the competition. I don’t see why the headscarves are a safety issue because wouldn’t the fabric put some slight cushion when they bump the soccer ball with their heads, so that there won’t be a red mark so it can act like protective gear, although the fabric is very thin. sort of like football players wear cushion on their bodies and helmets. I think soccer players should wear helmets if not hijoods. I was accidentally hit with a sports ball before on my head and due to the velocity of the throw, I was almost knocked down, but luckily my skull is very sturdy and didn’t crack open>_<

And I want to say, meant to in my first comment but I got so mad… good job with these posts.  I think it’s improving Lovelyish to have some more substance

I like these posts, they’re informative.  I like the beauty and fashion posts too.  But the ones about celeb gossip bore me.

K done

they look so sad

What?!??
Who would approve this decision?? This is outrageous!
I really hope FIFA takes this back. uuugh

@ohforrealson@xanga - Thanks! I’ll keep this in mind!

I’d want to know what the safety concern is before I judge. I know female soccer can get a bit violent with the ponytail pulling etc, but that doesn’t go without punishment. Soccer is a limited contact sport by its laws. Technically FIFA isn’t banning Muslims from wearing a headscarf anyway, but all women. I bet the rulebook doesn’t even specifically describe ‘headscarf’, but probably something like ‘head gear’. If religion restricts you, that is your problem, not everyone elses. Perhaps the affected soccer players can make a new soccer association that accepts the apparent risks of headscarves. After all, anything is better than the corrupt-as-hell FIFA.

has there been a no-headgear rule? if so, i don’t think there should be religious exceptions. i loathe “religious” exceptions. but seeing that there is precedence for it, this does seem shady.

I like having some substance on lovelyish, too.    And I think this is crazy; they should be allowed to play!

I would just like to say it isn’t /law/ that Muslims have to cover their hair.  
But that’s besides the point.  I can’t believe this happened to them.  I know that life isn’t fair, but this is ridiculous.

this is ridicuuloussss

what has this world come to? I mean they looke so proud to carry the Iran flag.

I don’t wear one but I respect those who do and say that they should play!

For those of you who aren’t avid football fans, FIFA pretty much does whatever they want, and don’t particularly care what anyone else thinks. That said, they make the rules, and the Iranian football association should have known this ahead of time, and had the female players wear the specialized hoods or caps which are permitted under FIFA regulations.

ridiculous

I guess I’m the first person to agree with FIFA.

If they ruled that these women can wear hijabs then other teams would also be able to change the dress code.
I don’t think religion should be combined with anything else. If your religious views are hindering you from doing something that you dream of doing, then you make the choice.
These women could just choose not to wear the hijab for the Olympics. They made their choice.

@P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga - Yeah, but it’s due to religious beliefs. It’s not like they are wearing it for a fashion statement. And it seems like there have been precedents in the past. So why not now? 

@tokyoexpressman@xanga - Really? I didn’t know that. I guess that makes sense. 

@thisiswhereItellyoueverything@xanga - That is kind of a harsh viewpoint but it seems valid but still, it’s difficult I must say.

uggh. this is just bigotry.

more power to you for writing this and making the world aware.

@thisiswhereItellyoueverything@xanga - for someone who understands the meaning of the head scarf, they cant just “choose” not to wear it one day. and besides i dont think i dont see how drasticly “the other team”  can change the fifa dress code if one were allowed; that statement just doesnt hold any validity imo. fifa could make one exception in this case but…

oh. and by the way, their hijab isnt hindering them in any way from playing the game, i think the pictures can tell you that. its fifa thats being a hindrance.

here’s the thing, FIFA has designed and approved a hijab[/hijood?] for soccer players, but the Iranian team refuse to wear it… I’m not judging, but just saying that FIFA haven’t banned hijabs completely, just the more dangerous kinds that the women want to wear.

My wife wears hijoods all the time while playing sports. Some of them look like the ones the Iranian team are wearing and some are more spandexy and have velcro straps. She’s into all sorts of sports, swimming, soccer, kendo, aikido, capoeira etc. etc. She was so good in soccer while in high school that she was approached to join a soccer club that would later let her play for the Portuguese women’s team. When they learned she wouldn’t give up her hijab, they dropped her.

I keep hearing people say that no progress comes out of the Muslim world and that Muslims oppress their women. The truth is the world has gotten to the point where IT doesn’t want to accept the Muslim world. The spandex hijoods allow no gripping so if someone would try to yank on it, they would be sorely disappointed. The Muslim world has the talent to take on other women in sports but prefer to put their faith first, so they stay in the shadows. 

I know this all seems unjustified to at first glance, but we can’t get all American feminism on everybody all the time. I was listening to a story about this on NPR, and, to respond to your 3rd point, yes FIFA is trying to ban all religious symbols. They clearly state that signs of faith do not have a place on the pitch. Why? Because there are few things in the world that create more conflict than religion. I understand FIFA wanting to keep their organization purely about soccer.

Also, FIFA informed the Iranian women’s soccer team of the kind of head scarves that would be accepted, and they did not follow by those guidelines. And yes, you could argue that it’s not FIFA’s place to make such a ruling when it comes to expressions of faith, but they did. They made the rules, and these women didn’t follow them. I’m not saying the rule is right, but they were aware of what it is.

And no, I personally don’t think its fair that they didn’t get to play. But I also don’t think its fair for Americans to consider themselves justive police when it comes to the rest of the world. Especially when we collectively have such little understanding of the nuisances of other cultures. Just sayin’

This actually isn’t a new development.  They’ve [the Iranian Girls' Soccer Team] have been dealing with this issue for about a year now.  I think it’s ridiculous…the safety issue claim is a joke and there is no support around it, not to mention that they are obligated by religious and national law to wear something that covers their hair.  smh.  

I don’t believe in religious exceptions- if something is right, it is always right for everyone, and if it’s wrong or against the rules, it’s always wrong, for everyone. So, if the dress code states “no headgear”, then, they have to either follow the rules or not play. If they change the rules, then they need to change them for everyone, not just certain religions.

Wow. This is unbelievable! 

also, i should point out that wearing head coverings is often just as cultural as it is religious.  i know several Christians from Eastern Europe or the Middle East who wear head scarves.  

@jazbajunoon@xanga - They can choose not to wear it, regardless of what it “means” they are still choosing to wear it. 

And it’s hindering them because it’s against the rules. If someone’s religion stated they have to play sports barefoot and FIFA regulations required shoes, then it would be the same issue. Wear the shoes or don’t play. 

this is ridiculous. they are playing soccer and not criticizing other people who arent muslim and dont cover up and arent as modest. i have to agree with one point…i can see y its a concern bc it is more of a contact sport than rowing but if its allowed in tae kwon do, then….y bother? they just want to play soccer not make a statement so let them play soccer.

I won’t be watching the Olympics now that’s for sure.

There were head scarfs/head coverings approved for this match that they could have warn but didn’t.  They picked the ones that weren’t approved, so I don’t feel sorry for them.

@Saferia@xanga - It’s not like that. They picked the ones that looked like hijabs and were chocking hazards, and not the ones that were approved and worn by the other Muslim teams. 

i’m offended.  this is prejudicial treatment in the very least.  to some extremes, it’s even a little racist.  i want to know exactly what these safety concerns are.  also, what they wear isn’t inhibiting the way the team performs so why are they being so restricting? I just don’t understand it.  it’s like saying that this team’s skill just isn’t good enough because of what they wear…and i think that’s rediculous….  

Rules are rules and everyone else follows them so they can play so why can’t they follow them, especially if they were told that they would have to wear the headgear that was designed for that sport and refused? Follow the rules or don’t play. Even if they choose to wear the headgear that was designed for that sport, they are still covered so the whole religious thing wouldn’t come into play anymore. Hey, it’s their choice so they have to live with the consequences.

is there something else they can wear? like something more similar to a swimming cap or something that wouldn’t be loose fabric hanging down? what about those full bodysuits?

@mycontinuity@xanga - ah, well in that case that changes the whole story! as long as they were covered, why didn’t they just choose the other ones they would have let them play in?

@AngelAsh_86@xanga - wearing a hijab is a choice, there is no punishment for not wearing one.

@mycontinuity@xanga - where did you find this information? i’m curious. if this is true, then yes, they could have played with those on, and this story wouldn’t even be a story.

@mycontinuity@xanga - Thanks for the clarification. I meant to do my “homework” before I posted, but got side0tracked. Now, knowing more, this issue/situation seems a bit more tricky. I do understand both sides (but would still really like to see the Iranian women’s team compete). There has to be some middle ground.

Wait, so why don’t they just wear hijoods?… Isn’t the safety concern over head scarves? Didn’t the poster say that there are athletic uniforms that adhere to FIFA’s rule while maintaining appropriate Muslim dress?

@thisiswhereItellyoueverything@xanga - I agree!!

@julydoll@xanga - That’s what I thought too! No one seems to have thought of that, people are just calling it bigotry and stuff. But why don’t they just wear the hijood?… Glad I wasn’t the only one that noticed that.

@pretty_inx_plaid@xanga - @swayXX@xanga - In the picture above, the two girls on the left (look at No# 18) are wearing the approved scarfs, and the one on the right wearing 27 has the unapproved one.

Here are pictures of a female team wearing the approved apparel from last year^^

Also, if you click on the first link from the story, the first picture of the team after the video, they are all wearing the approved scarfs, but then some girls didn’t like them and switched them.

You missed the part where they refused to use an altered version approved for the Olympics last time around.

“They didn’t choose it; it’s the law.”

Actually, they DO choose to follow that religion / remain living in Iran.

@Mangonese@xanga - Ah, now that makes sense. 

@BimmerPhile@xanga - Good luck to all the ladies that want to move out of the country without help from their male counterparts. They would have absolutely no way to do that legally in Iran.

@Mangonese@xanga - There is actually a program specifically dedicated to helping women obtain passage out of countries like Iran and Afghanistan. I wish I could remember the name – I read about it in one of Hitchen’s books, I think. 

@TheSaltMine@xanga - Omg no way that is so awesome! That makes me a tiny bit happier.

FIFA competitions have dress codes independent from other sports. If they wish to qualify for FIFA competitions, they must follow the dress code. If FIFA is to remain a secular organization it cannot be lenient in this or any other case, or make exceptions. Rules are rules for a reason and must be followed by all. Jewelry is also not allowed to be worn, so crosses, stars of david, etc. in jewelry form are also prohibited, as are kipas. 

gah this is ridiculous and infuriating! who are these idiots who come up with these rulings?!

I’m actually going with FIFA on this one. Sorry to take such an unpopular stance but there can be no head coverings whatsoever in soccer. I played for a really long time, and even though I played for a little league they wouldn’t let me wear a bandanna to cover baldspots that I was having. This is a requirement by FIFA, just as hijads are a requirement for Islam.
Also, to say that they are going to ban all sorts of religious paraphernalia is kind of ridiculous. They won’t do that, because most religious paraphernalia is worn as jewelry, and jewelry already can’t be worn while playing soccer. So are you saying that requiring somebody to take off a crucifix or a star of David around his/her neck would be the same thing?

If they really wanted to play that badly, they’d have to bend their rules a little bit, and conform to the rules of soccer.

@tokyoexpressman@xanga - Thank you. You can’t expect FIFA to change the rules for you.

That is the lamest. They should be allowed to play.