The Muslim News

Tehran, (AKI) - As the fourth Women's Islamic Games opens in Tehran among the delegations from Asia, Europe, America and Africa is a 15-strong British squad.

After becoming in 2001 the first non-Muslim country to attend the event, Britain will compete for the second time in futsal - five-a-side football. Behind the British partecipation in the sport event is a small community newspaper from Harrow which is sponsoring the team and has even set up the office for non-Muslim countries of the Muslim Women's Sport Foundation (MWSF).

"Islam is not against women's partecipation in society and in sports, as long as they follow the Islamic teaching" said Elham Buaras, a British Muslim with Sudanese origins working for Muslim News, who pointed out that the Prophet Mohammed himself had said "teach your children horse riding" and not simply teach your "boys".

And while there are various interpretations of Islam, many Muslim women want to or feel compelled to wear the Islamic headscarf.

"Keep the options open" is the catchphrase behind the British team to the Islamic Women's games, Buaras explained, recalling the case of one member taking part. To play in the university's football team, the girl was faced with a dilema, as she was asked not to wear the headscarf.

"A girl should not have to decide whether to follow her religion or the sport she loves. If a Muslim girl wants to wear a hijab, because she believes it is a religious prescription, she should be free to do so".

"The same applies to Muslim school", continues Buaras. "The British government allows religious schools and gives its citizens the option to choose."

"Being equal while maintaining diversity", is how Buaras would like to see the situation in Britain, who argues that this is the official policy in Iran, where women take an active part in politics, business and sport.

The Women's Islamic Games were launched in 1993 to give athletes from Muslim countries an opportunity to play sport at an international level, while not violating Sharia law by competing in front of men in inappropriate attire.

At the Tehran games the athletes must wear the headscarves in presence of men, confirms Buaras, but once males are excluded from the audience and there are no male referees and no media coverage, women are free to remove some clothing and compete dressed more comfortably.

After allowing the UK to become a member of the Muslim Women's Sport Foundation (MWSF), Muslim News is currently seeking to involve other non Muslim countries, like the States, who might send an athlete, France and Australia.

The MWSF's work was praised by the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and Deborah Jevans, director of sports of London 2012 -the agency created to back Britain's successful bid to stage the 2012 Olympic Games.

"These Games have given me the opportunity to represent who I am - a British Muslim - while playing a sport that I love," said Samana Fazel, member of the British futsal squad, in an interview to The Muslim News.

"We would like to expand the disciplines at the games but we have a budget problem. Some girls had to buy their ticket for Iran and some students athletes from Northern Britain don't have the money to travel to London for weekly practice", said Buaras, hoping that the general enthusiasm for the initiative will be followed by an offer of sponsorships by British newspapers, sports clothing shops and organisations.

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