Geji, I don’t hate muslim women at all, I am not the one abusing muslim women and restricting them.

Do you suppose this woman is the first muslim woman to ever compete in judo at the olympics? Plenty of muslim women don’t demand they be allowed to wear a headscarf and that rules are changed for them.

@Steve says, “Any change towards the standards of Saudi Arabia is a retrograde step…”

That would be a good argument if there were a push toward making a head covering mandatory for all competitors. But that’s just not what is happening here. The rules appear to be being changed to let more people of different cultures and religious beliefs participate (or to participate without having issues of transgressing their cultural or religious beliefs). The standards are being broadened to allow for more participation. Why should anyone object to that?

@Steve: What if it were the other way around? Suppose that Saudi Arabia and like-minded countries had originally set the rules for some international competition and mandated head coverings for women. Would you object to a change that made such coverings optional? Would you agree with a Saudi who said that such a change toward the Western standards of scantily clad women should be resisted at every turn?

@Steve

Do you think her Hijab gives her some kind of unfair advantage or something? Why does it matter so much to you that she can now compete in a Hijab? Do you think other women in the Olympics will now be forced to ware them? I see no sign of that happening. Why can’t you just be glad that Shaherkani is able to compete in the Olympics when up until very recently, her own country wouldn’t have allowed it, on account of her being a women?

Steve…

You said in your first post

“Once again the rules are changed. What a disgrace”

What a mouthful, but how telling it is about you and the rest of the ‘Islamophobes’ around the world.

A woman, who is competing in an international sport doesnt change the rules of the sport, she modifies what she wears to compete in the sport. Your fear comes out in this statement. You fear diversity and blending of humanity. You fear that the standard of ettiquette is changing, and your ‘culture’ is losing its place.

In other words Steve, to people like you, a woman modifying her dress to participate in the world is ‘changing thr rules’. A woman, showing her athletic skill in an international forum from a country where your standards of ettiquette is not the norm is frightening to you, although your claim is to be ‘concerned’ for women’s rights and human rights.

Steve…you need to accept that alot of rules are changing, not only in sport, in short order in this world. We as humanity are part of a dynamic cultural shift, and what was the ‘standard ettiquette’ before, is no longer valid. You and your kind will have to actually compete for particiation in the world…like she did, and modify your attitude to contribute to a global society…like she does.

Steve…yes, the rules are changing…deal with them.

Article is somewhat misleading. Qatar and Brunei never banned women from going to the Olympics. But both countries frequently sent women to other major international sporting events. Look at the size of the countries, Qatar has 1 million people and Brunei has 300 000.

I am glad for this girl.
@steve get a life you troll.

I’m glad for her sake that they found a way for her to compete, though I am surprised – judo is one of the few sports where having something around your neck really could be a serious safety risk. I hope that they televise her competition here on Friday.

@Steve

I have a Question for you. How does this harm anyone? Instead, shouldn’t you be glad that Saudi Arabia has become liberal enough to allow women to compete in the Olympics for the first time?

Funny thing though cyrus, is that she would probably kick your arse.

and that would be funny.

@moosern, the NFL is not an international governing sporting body. International sports have rules and regulations which are fair and equitable to all. Pandering to the religious strictures of some should not be part of those rules where any advantage or disadvantage or danger is present.

That fat slob was going to compete in the Olympics? BABAHAHAH!!!!

Seriously, the Saudis are an harassment to humanity. Not only do they have the most misogynic society on the planet…Their athletes don’t seem to believe in basic things like “exercise.” I am all for going after the Islamophobes…But one must clean one’s own house out, as well. Neither this woman, nor the society that she hails from, should be defended what-so-ever.

WOULD

YES!