FIBA: Online outrage sparks religious head coverings victory

By Hyacinth Mascarenhas

“If you look at history, change does happen when you fight for what’s right, no matter what the issue is.”

Like many athletes before her, Bosnian-American basketball player Indira Kaljo’s perseverance and brave decision to fight for her dream has sparked change in the world of sports.

Switzerland-based International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced last Tuesday that players will be allowed to wear religious head coverings including hijabs or turbans on a two-year trial basis in some competitions; a breakthrough decision that Kaljo called an “amazing first step.”

Previous FIBA rules stated: “Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players. Headgear, hair accessories and jewelry are not permitted.” The most commonly cited reasons for the rules were religious neutrality, uniformity and safety concerns.

During the trial phase, a national federation must petition FIBA to allow players to wear the head coverings and submit follow-up reports twice a year after the approval. The rule will be reevaluated in 2015 to determine if tests at the lowest international level will be allowed next summer. A full review will be done in 2016 to determine whether permanent changes will be made to the Official Basketball Rules and implemented after the 2016 Olympic Games.

“We welcome this policy change by FIBA because it allows Muslims, Sikhs and others who wear religious head coverings to take part in the sport that they love while maintaining their beliefs,” said the Council on American-Islamic Relations National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “FIBA should be congratulated for responding positively to all those who sought reasonable religious accommodation for athletes of all faiths.”

Raised Muslim, Kaljo, who played college basketball at Tulane, made the decision to wear a hijab earlier this year. That decision, however, threatened to end her professional basketball career as she would not be allowed to play overseas because of FIBA’s rules.

Believing that the FIBA policy was discriminatory and cost her and many others employment opportunities and the possibility of playing for their national teams, she launched a Change.org petition asking FIBA to change its rule banning female athletes from wearing “headgear.”

Kaljo’s petition is the latest in a series of Change.org petitions addressing women’s clothing in sports. Other successful petitions included FIFA changing its head scarf ban, AIBA ending its rule on women boxers wearing skirts in competition, and the Iranian Swimming Federation recognizing a swimmer’s records after her attire was initially deemed illegal.

“I’m beyond thrilled FIBA’s new Central Board has instituted a two-year provisional period paving the pathway for players to wear head covering during competition. This decision will allow many more players worldwide the opportunity to play in FIBA-organized competition,” said Kaljo. “I am confident that the two-year testing period will eventually show FIBA that its long-standing safety concerns are no longer valid. I am so thankful for the all of the support of my Change.org petition, and I look forward to trying to play professional basketball again with my faith celebrated, not compromised.”

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