Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Girls Walk to Stand Up

Eleven-year-old Asmahan Mansour wore a red hijab all year on her Nepean, Ontario girls soccer team. But she was ejected from the Canadian indoor championships when the referee claimed it was a safety hazard. Saying that hijabs are less dangerous than other things players wear (like eyeglasses), Asmahan’s teammates walked off the field together, choosing team solidarity over their chance for a national crown. Other Ottawa-area teams also quit in protest. Asmahan said, “ I was very proud of my teammates for having my back.”

Do you agree with the team walking off the field? Have you ever done something similar to show that you disagree with a decision or rule? We want to hear your stories!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kudos de Asmahan Mansour and her team for standing up for Asmahan's religious rights.

If a Catholic teammate of hers had worn a necklace with a cross on it, would the ref have declared it a safety hazard? Doubt it.

It's scary to see anti-Islamic racism extend onto the soccer field, a place where all players should be equal, no matter what god(s) they chose to worship.

-Natalia Thompson

Anonymous said...

yay!

Anonymous said...

I can't beleve this I'm glad her entire team was with her that's awsome to have friends like that

~Jessica~ said...

That's so awesome! I think that walking off the field was the right thing to do. I'm proud of Asmahan's teammates and the other teams for supporting them.

Anonymous said...

thats really cool i agree a soccer field is a good place 2 feel th@ way!this is random but i love soccer!

Anonymous said...

i am really glad that her team did that for her and i really agree 3:48AM.
-Charlotte Z. H-W