14-year-old Najah Aqeel had to make a decison between taking off her hijab to play in her highschool volleyball game or keep it on and be disqualifed from the game. A hijab is a head scarf that muslim woman wear that they wear for religious purposes. They only take them off when with other woman or immediate family. The referee told the coach they were breaking uniform guidlines from the state and that they were suppose to have prior approval to wear it.
Najah decided to keep her hijab on and to not play in the game. She was angry and had never been told this before. She felt that it singled out muslim women. Karrisa Niehoff, the executive director of The National Federation of State High School Associations said that the referee should of let her play and told her after the game to get a state approval. I agree with this and beileve it should not have mattered if Najah was wearing a Hijab. She should of been allowed to play in her volleyball game. It wasn't hurting anyone that she was wearing it. She should be allowed to express her religous beliefs. Click Here for more information.
Do you think she should of been allowed to play in the game? Why?
What would you have done if you were in her situation? Play in the game and take your hijab off or not play? Why?
Replies
Great topic choice! I do think your summary is a bit brief and be sure to include more of your thoughts and opinions. You also could have replied more frequently as well.
its a hijab, a sacred part of their religion, muslim women already have so much discrimination in america. I don't understand why she couldn't have worn it? Most coaches would allow christians to wear a cross or pray before a game. this is not any different, she shouldn't be disqualified.
I think that Najah should have been allowed to play in her volleyball game with her hijab on. America is supposed to be about freedom of beliefs and freedom of expression. In this situation, both of these freedoms were taken from Najah. The hijab was doing no harm to anybody on or off of the court, therefore, she should have been able to wear it while playing. If I was in this situation, I would keep the hijab on because I think that representing individual beliefs is far more important than surrendering in order to participate in a volleyball game.
I totally think she should have been allowed to play in the vollyball game as she wears the hijab for her religous beliefs and shouln't have to be disqualified from a game for it. There are many women that wear hijabs in other sports and I think the referee should have undertsood that it is part of her religion.
Yes because the hijab is releigen and the state guidelines shouldn't be allowed to disqualife people because of it. If I were in her shoes, I would have read the guidelines before hand, but otherwise I would go with what I believe in. I would keep the hijab on because thats what she believes in.
I think she should have been allowed to keep the hijab on and play because its her religion and we have freedom of religon in the U.S. If I was in her position I would sue the school for now allowing me to wear something thay my religion requires me to wear.
I think this is one of the most dissrespectful religous situations i've heard about in awhile especially to a young athlete. I would have let her play it's her religion her choice. If I was in her postion I would have stuck to what I believe in and wear it and not play. Many women of her religion can get there fammilies hated or looked down on by others who share the religion.
I think she should have been allowed to play with her hijab on because it wasnt hurting anyone and it wasnt makinging anything unfair to the opposing team so it shouldnt have mattered. I feel that they should have respected her and her religon and making her sit out was not the right thing.
I think she should've been allowed to play in the game. By not letting her play in the volleyball game they broke the first amendment of freedom, religion, and beliefs. Her hijab like you said wasn't hurting anyone if she played with it on and she should be allowed to express her religous beliefs. If I were in her sitution, I would've brought up the first amendment and how I would be allowed to express my religion and my religous beliefs. And I would've not taken off my hijab and I would sit out because that is going against your reliogion and beliefs and I think many people would find it disrespectful if you broke your reliogion code.
I definitely think that she should've been able to play in the game. Not allowing her to play in the game was against the first ammendment of freedom of religion and beliefs. If I was in her situtation I would not have played the game because that would go against the religion and many people would also frown upon that. After the game I would have filed some sort of complaint against the referee because that was terrible what happened to her.
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