HELP KULSOOM ABDULLAH - MUSLIM WEIGHTLIFTER

UPDATE on KULSOOM dated 07 July 2011
Kulsoom is now allowed to compete due to IWF changing their rules to accommodate for Muslim women.
She has registered to compete in the USA Nationals on July 15, but needs financial support.
Let's help get her there!
Donate on her site
UPDATE ON KULSOOM dated 25 June 2011
read it here: http://blog.friniggi.com/blog/_archives/2011/6/25/4845413.html
view previous updates as well as my original appeal below.
UPDATE ON KULSOOM dated 23 June 2011
I have posted updates everywhere: facebook, twitter, on this blog, in the comments section and separate post.
But I thought I'd post this here where it is visible to all those who have heard our message and wish to donate.
I was informed last night that Kulsoom will no longer be attending the meeting in Malaysia. I do not have all the details
yet, but it is sad because I know she really wanted to be there to present her case in person to the IWF.
The CHIP IN donation facility has been removed from her site liftingcovered.com. So you will not be able to make any donations.
Jazakallah and thank you to all who have heard our message and have come to help.
At the very least, I hope we have raised awareness on the ordeal Muslim female athletes face regarding hijab bans across all sports.
More details to follow as to why she is no longer attending the IWF meeting in Malaysia, soon.
PLease read my original post below, if you like. It still gives info and links to Kulsoom's ordeal.
Regards
Fatima
ORIGINAL POST on 22 June 2011
Earlier this month I posted about Kulsoom Abdullah being banned from competing in weightlifting due to her Islamic dress. See article here: http://blog.friniggi.com/blog/Photos/_archives/2011/6/10/4835146.html
Kulsoom wishes to present her case in person at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) meeting in Penang, Malaysia this Sunday 26th June.
Click here to see IWF schedule: http://www.2011wjwc.com/schedule.html
She is willing to discuss any options with the IWF to find a compromise between their dress code and hers. If she succeeds, this would open up the sport for greater diversity in its athletes especially to include Muslimah athletes. On a greater scale, it may even cause ripples in the sporting world to include other sporting bodies such as FIFA, to rethink their dress code restrictions against hijab and Islamic dress. Earlier this month Iran's women's team were forced to forfeit an Olympic qualifier due to their Islamic sports kit that went against FIFA's regulations. This means Iran's women's team won't compete in 2012.
If she is successful in Malaysia then she has won the right to wear Islamic hijab in weightlifting competitions for women all over the world.
If she is not, she is still able to present her case for American competitions. One of which is happening in July.
This is not just about Kulsoom, but for Muslimah athletes everywhere in any sport who wishes to practise Islam and sports.
There are so few Muslimah athletes today, even fewer who wear Islamic hijab. Let's support them. And make a true difference!
Kulsoom needs donations for her ticket to Penang, Malaysia to attend the IWF meeting and present her case for competing in Islamic hijab . And she needs your donations really fast. If she is to make it in time, she has to leave the USA on Friday 24 June 2011. This friday!
I have personally spoken to Mr Abbas from CAIR (COUNCIL of AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS) over the phone and discussed with him Kulsoom's situation. And therefore verified it. CAIR is working with Kulsoom in this rights case.
For any queries on this case, you may contact Mr Abbas at CAIR on 0017202510425. He is more than willing to give you more info.
Alternative numbers for CAIR 0012024888787.
HOW TO DONATE:
Kulsoom needs $2500 for air tickets to Malaysia to present her case in person at the IWF meeting this Sunday. Let's help get her there.
Please donate today or tomorrow. Any amount is appreciated.
If you have heard our appeal for help, and wish to donate please visit her site (and more specifically her blogpost) at
www.liftingcovered.com/malaysia
and donate via the CHIP IN icon on her webpage. It is secure and use Paypal or you could donate via Amazon too.
Here are links to recent articles on Kulsoom's journey so far:
CAIR (COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS) seeks hijab rights for Muslim female weightlifter
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20110608/pl_usnw/DC16563_1
Her site:
www.liftingcovered.com
Weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah fights hijab ban
http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/12/weightlifter-kulsoom-abdullah-fights-hijab-ban.html