IWF changes rules to accommodate for Muslim female weightlifters: Victory for Kulsoom

Kulsoom has informed that she is now able to compete in tournaments in one of her
clothing options she presented in a video
to the IWF which includes leotard, knee sleeves, loose singlet and leg warmers.
The IWF has kindly and reasonably responded by changing rules to accommodate for Muslim women weightlifters.
Much appreciation goes out to the IWF!
Hopefully other sporting bodies follow suit.
See article from ABC News:
By CHRISTINA NG
June 29, 2011
Disputes over what female Muslim athletes can wear have arisen in soccer, swimming, track, gymnastics and, most recently, weightlifting, putting the athletes in the difficult situation of having to choose between their religion and their sport. But today, a compromise was reached in weightlifting.
The International Weightlifting Federation announced from Malaysia that it would modify the rules for athletic attire to allow athletes to wear a "one piece full body tight fitted 'unitard' under the compulsory weightlifting costume."
This decision comes after Muslim weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah, from Atlanta, was on the brink of qualifying for the American Open tournament last year when she was eliminated for wearing her hijab. She was told it could be dangerous and potentially give her an unfair advantage as judges might not be able to tell if her arms were locked.
The hijab complies with her religious beliefs that she must be completely covered, with the excepton of her face, hands and feet. Abdullah, 35, would not compete without it.
In a statement today, Abdullah said, "This is a great victory. I am hopeful for more participation in sports for women…. I hope other sporting organizations will follow this example to allow greater inclusion and participation in their respective sport. One example is FIFA's disqualification of the Iranian women's team."
What It's Like to Be Muslim in America Watch Video
JFK Runway Becomes Turtle Crossing Watch Video
Los Alamos Wildfire Threatens Nuclear Lab Watch Video
The Iranian women's soccer team was disqualified from a match against Jordan for next year's Olympics due to their headscarves. A FIFA official said that the headscarves violated their rules for dress and that, for safety reasons, women's necks cannot be covered.
When Abdullah was disqualified, she teamed up with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which asked both USA Weightlifting and the United States Olympic Committee to advocate for her on behalf of all women who wish to compete.
Each sport has a governing body; for weightlifting, the final decision had to come from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
In the news release announcing the decision, the IWF wrote, "The newly approved competition costume modification promotes and enables a more inclusive sport environment and breaks down barriers to participation."
Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF president and honorary member of the International Olympic Committee, said, "Weightlifting is an Olympic sport open for all athletes to participate without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin."
While this decision symbolizes a victory for Muslim women, other setbacks have garnered attention this week, most notably in California where 19-year-old Umme-Hani Kahn says she was fired from a Hollister store in San Mateo for wearing a head scarf.
After agreeing to wear headscarves in Hollister colors, Kahn says she was informed in February that her hijab violated the store's "look policy" and she would have to take it off in order to continue working.
She refused and made a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which filed a workplace discrimination lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch this week. Hollister is owned by Abercrombie and this is not the first time the company has been sued for this issue.
Abercrombie denies any wrongdoing and says they have been compliant with the law regarding reasonable religious accommodation.
"The company's 'all-American look' policy is un-American, because it excludes people because of their race, national origin, gender or religion," said EEOC San Francisco regional attorney William Tamayo in a statement.
With one victory in athletics and one setback in retail, the fight for inclusiveness as represented by the Muslim hijab will continue with Kahn's case
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/weightlifting-organization-modifies-clothing-rules-muslim-woman/story?id=13960735

Special feature: Muslim female tennis players of Wimbledon 2011

It's Wimbledon time and I thought I'd do a post to highlight the careers of some high profile Muslim female WTA players.
I was supposed to do this last week, when the tournament started, but I got so busy!
AND It was supposed to be a series of posts, detailing the player profiles. Ah well.
Two posts with links to profiles will have to do.
Unfortunately our ladies didn't get past the first round in Ladies Singles, but to be fair they had some heavy opponents such as the Williams sisters.
First off, is the well-known Indian player, Sania Mirza.
Sania Mirza was defeated by Virginie Razzano of France 7-6 (7-4 tiebreaker) 2-6 6-3 in the first round.
This next player is the sister of another well-known tennis player, Morat Safin, who at one point was ranked in the Top 10 of the men's circuit ATP. Her name is Dinara Safina and she's carving her own place in the tennis world.
She withdrew from both Wimbledon and Roland Garros French Open due to a back injury.
Players to feature in the next Wimbledon post:
1. Aravane Rezai of FRANCE beaten by Serena Williams 6-3 3-6 6-1 1st Round tuesday 21 june
2. Akgul Amanmuradova of UZBEKISTAN beaten by Venus Williams of USA 6-3 6-1 1st Round Monday 20 june

dinara safina.jpg

sania mirza2.jpg

TOYOTA 1000 Desert Race, Botswana 2011

See videos on our facebook.
Taken by yours truly.
Background to the race:
The Toyota 1000 Desert Race is the premier off-road racing event held in Southern Africa. The race takes place in Botswana and a different course is laid out each year.
It started in Botswana in 1975 and then moved to South Africa in 1981.
The motorsport race moved back to Botswana in 1991, where it all started.
The world's best off-road racers who also compete in Dakar-Paris races, compete here.
The are different types of cars competing: Sandmasters (which kinda look like a cockroach), vans, bikes (i think)
I took the vids at Spectator point 19.
There was a bend in the track which forced cars to slow down.. great for me with my slow camera..
coz i managed to get some good vids and pics (soon to be posted.)
It was a fun day out for kids and family.
Though the sun was out, it is the middle of winter, and it is very cold evidenced by spectators in warm clothing.
here are the links to the vids:
video 1
Video 2
Photos to be posted soon.

elbow lockout.jpg

Elbow lockout

Kulsoom demonstrates elbow lockout. Given to friniggi courtesy of Kulsoom Abdullah. View photo in kulsoomabdullah.