Bahraini women's basketball team praised for refusal to remove veils

Manama: Two lawmakers have heaped praise on Bahrain's women's basketball team for refusing to remove their veils in an international competition even though it meant losing their match.

“The attitude of our national team was honourbale and truly indicated the players' deep commitment to Islamic values. They conveyed a strong and genuine message to the whole world that Muslims value their traditions and principles and are not ready to give them up for the sake of a game. We do have our own achievements in various fields and we should always build on them,'' said Ebrahim Busanadal, MP for Al Asala, the Salafi society. “It is obvious that the struggle for wearing the hijab (veil) is long and arduous and is taking place in several countries, even in those that falsely claim that they promote democracy and the right of people to think and dress as they like. I salute all the members of the Bahraini delegation who fought for the right to allow the girls to keep their hijab,'' said Busandal.

In his rich tribute to the Bahrain team, Mohammad Khalid, one of seven MPs representing the Islamic Menbar in the lower house, said that their attitude deserved to be applauded by all people.

“You held our heads high by refusing to remove the veil for the sake of the game. You were right in wearing it and you were right in keeping it. We do understand your frustration when you were told that you would be losing the game against the Indian team if you did not remove the veil. But we sincerely applaud your decision to respect the precepts of your religion and to follow its teachings,'' the MP said in his message to the Bahraini girls. “I urge all patriots in Bahrain to honour the team when they come home and to show them deep gratitude for their behavior,'' he said.

Bahrain's first basketball match waded into controversy after an official in charge of the basketball match in the first Asian Youth Games held in Singapore told the national team girls to drop their veils if they wanted to play.

The official claimed that the Bahraini girls would be violating a dress code rule in the regulations of FIBA, the world basketball body, if they kept their veils on, and that they would lose all their matches if they did not take them off. The decision resulted in the team conceding a walkover to India on Day One of the Group C girls' preliminary games at Anglican High School (AHS) and in the shocked Bahraini players bursting into tears.

However, the Bahraini delegation protested the decision and reviewed the matter with the Asian Olympic Council members and the director of the games. The discussions led to the reversal of the decision and to allowing the Bahraini team to field the veil-wearing players in its matches.