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Subscribe to RSSAfter a hard-fought battle in the name of her faith, Muslim weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah is now able to compete without violating her religious beliefs. Abdullah discusses her victory with msnbc's Thomas Roberts.
Kulsoom Abdullah will get her chance to prove how strong she is at the U.S. weightlifting championships in July after she proved how tough she is as an advocate.
Abdullah, 35, who was born and raised in Georgia and boasts a PhD in computer networking from Georgia Tech, qualified for the championships, but she was ruled out because, as a Muslim, she refuses to compete without wearing her hijab.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported yesterday that after a challenge from Abdullah, the International Weightlifting Federation approved new guidelines that give women "the option of dressing in attire that doesn't leave their legs and arms exposed."
The barrier came to national attention this week after msnbc.com's Kari Huus spotlighted Abdullah's dilemma.
"I think it would just be nice that in any sport, if there's a lady who covers her arms and legs … they could still be involved," Abdullah told Huus. Turning to her chosen sport, which is male-dominated, she added: "With the dress code (as it is) Muslim women might think it's not something they should do."
Abdullah said yesterday that she was "really happy" with the ruling, telling the Journal-Constitution:
"The one advantage to all of this is that it raised a lot of awareness. I hope it will help with other sports that other (Muslim) women participate in."
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Here we go again. A organization that has been around for years and has honed their rules so it is fair for everyone forced to change for one person. The minorities rule again !!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that this is a waste of time for all those involved. If she doesn't want to bare her legs then good for her she made that choice (She said that in highschool she chose to wear the hijab no one forced her.) Now she wants people to make special exceptions for her!?! That's just stupid. If you can't follow the rules that are there for a reason choose another sport that better suits your personal belifs. Don't make people change the rules to accommodate to you just because you refuse to follow the rules. No one forced you to wear the hijab so follow the rules or don't compete with the others that are willing to follow the rules.
What a crock! First we bend over backwards again for the Muslims. Anyone seen France lately to know how that turned out? Secondly, by doing this allows for different kinds of dress to be allowed that couyld hide and influence cheating in this sport. Her jib-jab or whatever is not a sport or religious dress, It is a FAD and a STYLE, no different than you or I demanding to wear Nike or Under Armor. This was a sham and they won.
I respect her for standing up for her beliefs. Anyone who wishes to use this as a chance to attack Islamic beliefs should take a second look at their own beliefs. An international organization made a minor change to accommodate an athlete - big deal. I wish her all the best and hope she does well. Attacking someone for their religious affiliation is the refuge of the truly shallow and those who haven't ever looked out of their own little box.
OK..............as long as the judges don't have a problem with an Orthodox Jewish woman weightlifter or an Amish woman weightlifter competing in their garb.
Question: What would Mohammed say about a woman weightlifter?
daryl-2183015
I think you are forgetting that those things are in the past. It's time for the Moslems to come out of the middle ages.
Like the Franciscan monks...or the monks in Tibet...they should all have to wear jeans and tshirts...will that make you all more comfortable...There are many religions who's followers still wear traditional garb...Mormons, Jews, Buddhist...etc...pick one...
We have to stop this Political Correctness! It's going to be the downfall of this once great Country! We must stop the immigration of all people for a while! Get this country back on it's feet! We have to many un-educated cab drivers, hotel clerks, and convenience store owners/clerks! We need to open our eyes and see what's going on! Before it's too late!
You are right!..stop the political correctness..let us call Cookie Monster, Cookie monster again. Lets allow our kids to watch Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig cartoons...so what if they stutter..political correctness is all around us..not just in religion...as long as the media puts a microscope on these issues, people will keep talking about it...and I wasn't kidding about Cookie Monster (now Veggie Monster) or Elmer and Porky..there's a mom who is trying to have the cartoons banned because her child stutters...people...get lives....
Donald Duck should wear PANTS! The Pervert!
Don't forget the 3 Stooges!
ahh yes ... The 3 Stooges. But they wore pants - up to their chests. And if I may quote the late, great Dudley Dickerson.."Diss house is sho gone crazy!!".
Sigh, so we are back to the essential issue of commenting on what women wear. Frankly, if it doesn't interfere with the sport, who cares? I honestly don't see why it matters whether a hijab is cultural, religious, or other - if the woman wants to wear a scarf, let her wear one! If she is strong, she will win, if not, she won't. If she had alopecia and wanted to cover her head to hide hair loss - would it be an issue? If a guy does a comb over or gets a "rug," is that an issue? Can you honestly tell me that there are no male body builders wearing hair weaves? Why is this an issue?
So if we go to a middle east country will our wives be forced to their customs? like lets say out here they can wear skirts...shorts...makeup..drive...hmmm i guess not..So why do we allow them to wear that out here? And if your only defense is because of their religion...well ok ...my next question is...can we go there and wear crosses...have the bible out...preach about god...jesus...virgin mary....hmmm another no...Y cause theyre hypocrites. Its all b.s they want special treatment because of their religion...pshh. Screw that.
The answer is no to most of your questions. and the reason is, The United States is one of the few nations that allow religious freedom..hence the reason people come here and we don't go there..The countries you ask about only recognizes Islam..so you wouldn't go there to practice Christianity or Judism...duh...
Dave555-1684791 all that crap is in the Bible and
Torah - so is that crap or the word of god?
Who gives a rats ass. If she wants to lift, let her lift.
Modesty and Tolerance. I'd like to think these are POSITIVE values to strive for. Kudos for allowing the woman to compete in clothing that allows her to feel comfortably covered. Thank goodness for free speech in this country that even allows intolerant and stupid speech, like many of these comments.
The international boy for weightlifting made it decision and YOU haters keep ranting until the hatred, intolernace cause you a heart attack, or make you drop dead.
ALL THIS HATRED IS DIRECTED TOWARD A FOLLOW AMERICAN WHO YOU DONT EVEN KNOW, OR TALKED TO, and SHE NEVER HURT ANYONE OF YOU. How is it letting this woman compete for THE US in the OLYMPICS WOULD hurt or affect any of you, except maybe she would win a medal for her country
Hate is from Satan. grow up
Yeah, right........
When that thingy around the neck gets caught in the weights and it chokes her to death, she better not come crying to me.
This is BS........ she should NOT be given an exemption. The rules are the rules. Just like illegal immigration, they want to be politically correct - damn the law (or rules).
Pretty soon they will be able to rob banks and there be no penalty.
How many women from the Middle East are competing in weight lifting. Saudi, Jemen, Turkey, usw.
Well, she finally got her way! Since the hijab has no religious implications, and the IWF does not mind bending the rules, I would like to participate wearing a diaper on my head and pjs. Where do I apply?
it depends whether your diaper contains feces, soaked with urine or not.
You seem to be an expert at it so you tell me - what's in a hijab and I'll conform.
I use diapers on my 3 months old-baby. hijab, not so much!!. You asked a question, i replied with what i know from experience. next
So, since you know so much about the state of a diaper on someone's head, I'm guessing once you remove the soiled diaper from your brat you are putting it directly onto your head. Nice.
nope- you guessed wrong. You're the one who wants to have a diaper on your head, not me. remember.
Guys, in this case no one was bending to the will of Islam, both the weightlifter and the committe came to an agreement in the middle. And that's good. Now if Islam demanded that Burkas, etc. be worn by Muslim women lifters and got it, then that's bad. If Islam demanded that all women lifters had to wear Burkas, etc., got the ruling, than that would be way worse. But those two bad things didn't happen. So no worries.
It's all about what you want other people to think, being different makes some people think their special than others. It's all just a show I bet at home she has the same underwear like us.
The views expressed here are mostly those who are blind to their beliefs in a god of the bible split into three. News flash, all are deluded and its like hearing thieves calling thieves...robbers. Funny, their holy books are full of atrocities done to man in the name of heaven and good behavior. Actually, they are the works of misguided prophets on all sides...ignorant. They read their holy books with blind faith and expect normal people to buy their lies for all these centuries. It's a shame to humanity.All can even live happily and peacefully amongst themselves, the muslims kill each, so also the christians and then they start killing people of opposing religions. Are guys that BLIND?
Wow, talk about a very unique niche of the American populace:
A female Muslim weightlifter.
But more power to her. It doesn't give her "an advantage" or anything, so what does it matter?
Special treatment again.
They always win.
Why does anyone care what she wears? If she's competent to compete, that's all that should matter. Why are so many people worried about someone else's life when they should focus on their own life. Everyone is entitled to live the way they please, as long as they don't harm anyone else...the way this woman dresses doesn't harm anyone...
because she is Muslim and we hate Muslims. we dont care if she is an American and could win a medal for our country. We rather see her fail and the US team with her.
This was a perfectly reasonable accommodation, in my view. The athlete isn't attempting to wear anything that gives her a competitive advantage (the position of her joints will still be visible to the judges with the garments she's suggesting). That's the reason for the rule she was previously violating: to ensure that the judges could see what they need to see. If that requirement is still being fulfilled, what's the big deal?
First, this is a lousy, biased article thrown together just to prod our emotions about Islam - again. Can't believe this is such a big story - who gives a flyn fig?? Second, Maybe this girl wouldn't be hasseled so much if those peaceful muslims were not behind 9/11, terror bombings, Marines' murders in Beirut, USS Cole, web-beheadings, etc... So maybe there is a smack of racism here but I feel it is up to muslims to fix - it's their own behavior turned against them and many non-muslims are sick of the constant pandering to them for fear of violating their rights. This girl knew that this was going to make headlines - just another poser muslim looking to get noticed.