Post date: Jul 30, 2012 12:37:42 AM
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (JULY 29, 2012) (REUTERS) - A Saudi Arabian judo competitor, who may reportedly withdraw from the London Olympics if she is not allowed to wear her hijab, or headscarf, during bouts, received support from fellow Saudis on Sunday (July 29).
Saudis hope for a solution to a reported row over headscarves which could prevent one of their first female Olympic athletes from competing.
Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani is due to compete in the +78 kg judo category on Friday (August 3).
Sunday's edition of Saudi Arabia's al-Watan newspaper quoted the father, Ali Shaherkani, as saying over the telephone from Britain that his daughter "will not compete in the Judo Games on Aug. 3 if the committee insists that she removes her hijab".
A Saudi official said earlier this month its female athletes would have to obey Islamic dress codes.
But last week, International Judo Federation (IJF) president Marius Vizer said Shaherkani would have to fight without a headscarf to comply with "the principle and spirit of judo".
Speaking in Jeddah, Saudi journalist Rozana al Yami said the federation should try to find common ground with the athlete.
"There are many kinds of headscarves for different sports, and of course there must be one for the sport of judo. In my opinion, they will find another solution for her instead of preventing her from taking part in the Olympics," Yami said.
Female participation in sports has long been a controversial issue in Saudi Arabia, where conservative Muslim clerics have said it is immodest and goes against women's nature.
"It would be sad if the first two Saudi women to represent the kingdom are prevented from taking part in the Olympics. We are already deprived by not being allowed to attend public sports events, such as in a sports stadium," Yami said.
Until this year, Saudi Arabia was one of three countries, alongside Brunei and Qatar, never to have sent female athletes to the Olympics. Human rights groups urged the IOC to ban the countries from the Games unless they agreed to send women.
Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on the participation of Shaherkani and Sarah Attar, an 800-m runner, just two weeks ago after talks with the IOC.
A leading Saudi football player on Sunday added his voice of support for a solution to the hijab issue, to allow Shaherkani to compete.
Salman al Hareri, who plays with Al Ittihad, based in Jeddah, said a way should be found around the technical problems of competing in a head covering.
"I believe that woman can represent Saudi Arabia in the Olympics, such as the London Olympics and they can represent the kingdom well. Yes of course, there are problems with the headscarf (in sport) but we have to find a solution that is acceptable for both parties," Hareri said.
Constructive talks had taken place between the federation and the athlete, as well as the IOC and other organisers to see if a solution could be found, a spokesman for the IOC told reporters on Sunday.
The spokesman said the threat to withdraw was not true, as far as he knew, and he was confident of a positive outcome.