Muslim ‘girls only’ swimming sessions ripple Danish waters

Hundreds of young Muslim girls have flocked to swimming lessons in Copenhagen's immigrant-heavy Tingbjerg district after Hovedstadens Svømmeklub (Capital City Swimming Club) introduced segregated swimming sessions.

While the swimming club has hailed the move as a "recipe for integration", politicians and commentators have criticised the concept as being against Danish values.

The girl-only sessions, which also take place with windows and doors to the swimming hall blacked out, were set up in response to religious and cultural requirements put forward by parents, reports Berlingske.

The newspaper reports that 246 girls of non-Danish ethnic origin between the ages of five and 12 have begun attending swimming lessons at the hall since the sessions were introduced.

“We have gone from zero to several hundred girls in three years, and have successfully established a swimming option for a specific group, which would otherwise find swimming difficult to access because of religion,” Lars Sørensen, the director of Hovedstadens Svømmeklub (HSK), told Berlingske.

A 2011 report by the Danish Sports Association (Dansk Idrætsforbund) showed that 28 percent of ethnic Danes were members of sports clubs, compared to 18 percent of non-ethnic Danes.

Sørensen told Berlingske that encouraging young Muslim girls to take part in sport - while keeping with their own religious practices - strengthens both physical wellbeing and integration amongst the girls.

“Many of these girls come here and meet role models from their own neighbourhoods standing on the poolside in the coach’s jersey,” said Sørensen. “At the same time, they learn to swim, which gives safety, fitness and well being.”

Sørensen added that the club did not consider the introduction of segregated lessons an extraordinary measure.

“It is just a condition [for taking part], just as some people swimming in 50 metre lanes and others swimming in 25 metre lanes,” the pool trainer told Berlingske.

“We are the second biggest sporting association in the country, so we think it’s our responsibility to offer a considered range of swimming lessons,” he added.

But the City of Copenhagen's deputy mayor for culture and leisure, Carl Christian Ebbesen of the Danish People’s Party (DF), told Berlingske that creating segregated swimming sessions for Muslim girls was bad for integration and “destructive” for Danish culture.

“It is completely crazy to meet these demands. There is a desperately short supply of swimming pools, so we shouldn’t be closing them down by putting curtains in front of the windows and signs saying ‘just for girls’ just to meet the demands of religious fanatics,” Ebbesen said.

The DF politician said that Muslim girls were welcome to take part in sports clubs, but that this must be done on the same basis as everybody else.

“We must go to the parents via our integration policies and explain to them that we cannot meet their special requirements,” Ebbesen told Berlingske.

“They must send their girls to sport and other activities like everyone else. Every time we meet these demands, we are destroying the society we’ve worked so hard for,” he continued.

Rikke Lauritzen of the left-wing Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), who is responsible for municipality financial support for community projects in Copenhagen, said that Ebbesen should “relax a little bit” and called the swimming initiative “super cool”.

“The most important thing for me is to get children from all backgrounds involved in clubs and associations of all kinds, so that they can be part of the democratic development process that this entails,” Lauritzen told Berlingske.

“It’s super cool, that so many children have begun swimming in Tingbjerg, because it shows that it works when we provide funds for development. I would therefore like to congratulate HSK on its success,” she continued.

Lauritzen also pointed out that single-sex swimming lessons are not an extraordinary sight.

Source: http://www.thelocal.dk/20160427/muslim-girls-only-swimming-sessions-ripple-danish-waters

Hijabs and Hat-tricks: Muslim women lead the field

by Sorcha Pollak

The end of a rule that barred women from wearing a hijab while playing football has seen the numbers of young muslim women taking up the game rise. Click Here for the Video by Daniel O'Connor

Growing up in Tallaght, Fadhila Hajji loved playing football with her brothers.

Kicking a ball around the yard during her teen years was the perfect way to relax after a long day at school. Unfortunately, the headscarf or hijab she wore as a Muslim teenager meant she was unable to play matches with other girls.

“It was very upsetting to me because I couldn’t express my passion for football,” says Hajji as she prepares for her weekly training in Phoenix Park on a grey, wet morning. “It was something I really enjoyed playing, something that I could use to blow steam off. Playing with everyone was just my happy time. I was really eager to join a team but couldn’t because of my headscarf.”

In March 2014, football’s world-governing body Fifa lifted the ban on head covers during matches. This meant female Muslim players would have the option to cover their heads when playing.

When Hajji’s brother Abdul-Rahman heard about Fifa’s decision to lift the ban on headscarves, he approached his sister with the idea of creating a Muslim women’s football team in Dublin. He was already an active member of Sports Against Racism Ireland (Sari).

Along with their friend, Abdul, the three young soccer enthusiasts contacted friends around Dublin encouraging them to get involved in their “Hijabs and Hat-tricks” project. Diverse City FC kicked off training in March 2014 and, two months later, they made their debut at the Fair Play Cup on World Refugee Day.

Weekly training

Mahdiyah Ayub from Coolock has joined Hajji for the Phoenix Park training despite the incessant rain. The girls stamp their feet as they catch up on the week’s gossip, waiting for the session to kick off.

Ayub was already a keen footballer player when Hajji called her in 2014 to join the new team. Before playing with Diverse City, she often removed her scarf for fear of sticking out on a pitch of non-Muslim players.

“It was more I was uncomfortable in my own skin,” says the 17 year old, catching her breath after warm-up laps. “Knowing you’re the only Muslim, you try and fit in more with the other girls, so I took my scarf off.”

The decision to join Diverse City has given her the confidence to play her favourite sport while wearing her hijab.

“Since I’ve joined this team, I’ve been wearing it to my school matches, to clubs and everything. The team gave me more confidence to go out there . . . to wear my scarf, to be proud of being a Muslim. To be proud of my scarf because it’s part of my identity.”

Wearing a scarf while playing sport is just like tying your hair back, says Ayub. “It’s also great because when it’s windy or raining you have an extra layer so your hair doesn’t get wet.”

Amina Moustafa, who is in first-year science at Trinity College, doesn’t wear a hijab, but has many friends who were afraid to join teams because of their headscarves. She and her twin sister, who also plays on the team, were lucky enough to grow up in a household where sports was always encouraged.

“My mam said when she was younger she was told not to play, that maybe it wasn’t for her. She didn’t want that for us so she encouraged us to keep going out.

“She loved the idea that there was a Muslim girls team and it was promoting diversity and interculturalism in Ireland. I’ve done so much sport over the years and this is the best team for bonding together. Normally, you just play the sport and go home, whereas I feel when we’re playing there’s more of a connection between the players.”

The girls are so enthusiastic about Diverse City they insisted on continuing training and playing matches during Ramadan – a period of the Islamic year when Muslims do not eat or drink anything between sunrise and sunset.

“It’s a good distraction from eating,” says Moustafa. “You don’t even think about it. We were just thinking about how amazing it was that we actually won a match when we didn’t have any energy.”

Azeez Yusuff, who coaches the team, says he was pleasantly surprised by how talented some players are. “All of them were good from day one when I first saw them – and now they’ve just totally developed which is absolutely amazing.”

“It’s great to see everyone mixing together because people say Muslim women just stay at home and stuff like that. Here you can see they’ve proven them wrong.”

Common sense

Former Republic of Ireland football manager Brian Kerr, who sits on the board of Sari and has followed the Hijabs and Hat-tricks project with great interest, says Fifa’s decision to allow women to wear hijabs while playing was “common sense”.

“Why should they have that restriction when in their culture they have to wear something to cover their hair?” he asks. Kerr believes Ireland’s decision to host the 2003 Special Olympics marked a turning point in attitudes.

“Why aren’t we inclusive in sport for everybody? As long as people give it the best they can and we can provide those opportunities, it can be vastly satisfying for players, coaches and volunteers.”

“A new population is coming into the country; a new diverse group with different religions and different cultural norms.”

Fadhila Hajji is proud to have played a leading role in making competitive football a reality for Irish Muslim women in their teens and early 20s. In December, she received a People of the Year Award for her work with Sari in fighting discrimination through sport.

“I feel proud. I feel like I have achieved something for the team, for myself and also for people around the world that feel inspired. I think it’s great that people from different backgrounds and ethnicities are getting together in one community and playing football.”

Hajji believes Muslim participation in sport sends out a positive message. “Islam is not portrayed very well at the moment. People seeing the Muslim people doing something good, that’s what we need right now.”

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/hijabs-and-hat-tricks-muslim-women-lead-the-field-1.2479670

THE KEY TO FIGHTING GENDERED ISLAMOPHOBIA

By Shireen Ahmed
"Hands Up... SCREAM," he shouted. "HANDS UP! Faster! Faster!"

Konga blew his whistle and I jumped into fight stance, my hands protecting my face and head, trying to emulate his agility. I was panting and tried to keep up with the pace and the demands of the instructor. I faced Jihad, my 13-year-old daughter. Beads of sweat covered her forehead and her eyes were dark and intense.

A few weeks ago, I committed to attending this self-defence session offered by Konga Fitness at Battle Arts Academy in Mississauga, Ontario, located just west of Toronto. It is one of the 20 self-defence workshops and sessions being offered for women in the last two months. After an alarming number of attacks on identifiable Muslims occurred in the Greater Toronto Area following the tragedies in Paris and San Bernardino, a few community members and organizations mobilized to offer workshops and self-defence classes.

READ MORE: Stadiums Are Still Closed to Women in Iran

Islamophobia has reared its ugly head in Canada and a lot of women in the Muslim community were feeling particularly vulnerable, angry, frustrated and, yes, scared—I certainly was.

Our instructor, Khaled Konga, yelled directions for our body positioning and sequences. We continued for another three minutes. When he was satisfied with our movements and our responses to his commands, we were permitted to take a water break.

"Confidence. It is about confidence" Konga reiterated as we gulped, "You must be confident. You must be aware. You must use your voice!" His Egyptian accent dotted his directions. "You are strong. I am not going to teach you superman kicks and fancy punches. I am teaching you the basics so you can be safe. This is reality and function."

Above all, he reminded us, screaming is imperative. I look over and see my child nodding in agreement. I was grateful that she was absorbing all of this. Some of the other participants were smiling and chatting intermittently but we both stayed in battle mode. This was important. We both knew it. 

This session had about 30 attendees. All but two were women of colour. The majority of the women in the group were wearing the hijab. When I first brought up personal safety in the wake of an increase of attacks on Muslims, Jihad confessed she was more concerned for me since I cover and she does not. I realized that the best thing was for both of us to attend together.

I am an identifiable Muslim woman. I wear a hijab. I have worn it for almost 20 years—by choice. That my decision to wear a headscarf could be a trigger for ignorant people to attack me is unsettling, to say the least. My daughter does not choose to cover. But she identifies as a Muslim and her name is unmistakably and unapologetically Arabic. I trust her but I feel burdened by an anxiety that she could be targeted because of her beliefs, her skin colour and even her name. Most of the victims of recent attacks have been young women. And some close to my home. As a result, some have decided to not go out at night as often. I don't blame them. But I opted for physical preparedness in case my daughter or I were ever in that situation.

My friend Noor, who happens to be a black belt in karate and also a sexual assault prevention instructor, shared the information about Konga's free sessions, and I immediately registered for two spots. Jihad initially groaned and insisted that the wrestling sessions in our living room with her dad and three brothers were sufficient. But I wouldn't have any of it, fearing that Islamophobes and misogynists could unleash their ignorant rage on her. She would come to this workshop; if only for giving me and her father some peace of mind.

I might have reconsidered when I saw how eager she would be to partner with me and attack me on Konga's cues. She was fierce and determined. "At least this attitude you giveme can empower you in something," I muttered to her. She rolled her eyes but we continued the drill.

In between bouts of emphasizing the importance of spatial awareness and quick footwork, Konga reminded us that our main purpose was, in fact, not to maim aggressors but to get to safety. Our sharp responses of an elbow or a kick might only irritate or confuse a person attacking us. But it would give us that opportunity to get the hell out of there and get help.

Jihad remained rapt with attention. She is used to physical demands of an athlete but this training is about awareness and smart decisions under pressure. We are told that ultimately we should practice these maneuvers until they become second nature. Constant awareness of the spaces we are in is so important for all women—Muslim, or not, and for all ages.

Jihad was the youngest one in the session but victims of such attacks can be quite young. I think about this a lot. In the United States, one such victim was a girl in sixth grade and beaten by three schoolboys who shouted "ISIS" at her as they punched her.

I want my daughter to be able to defend herself, and I will not always be there. Those thoughts weigh heavily on me. Young Muslims, who grew up on timbits and homogenized milk in Canada—the only home they have ever known—worry about their safety. Those young female Muslims cheer for the same hockey teams, volunteer at community hospitals and inhale poutine like any other teenager from Canada. But they worry about being targets of racist violence, which many in this country will never experience.

"Mama, focus!" she snapped and then promptly pushed against my arms. I shook myself to attention and straightened my posture. The I re-engaged with her. She needs to see me learning and fighting. The information we received was mentally exhausting and physically demanding. My arms hurt and my calves are sore but I feel I need to continue.

In every class, workshop or seminar I have ever attended, the instructors all underline how confidence is essential. A two-hour session is not enough to master all martial arts moves, but consistent training can certainly help. In one of our many conversations, Noor told me that, "Participants having a false sense of security is always a concern, but you want to ensure women understand martial arts is about having positive headspace." She adds that a sense of sisterhood is also strengthened by these initiatives. This is also an important lesson for my daughter to learn. I wish that personal and community development didn't have to be in the context of protection from violence, but it is her reality right now.

Gendered Islamophobia is rooted in racism and misogyny. It is a constant in the lives of women. Misogyny has lurked in the true north strong and free for a long time. It is not something new to Canada. Our government just released an inquiry about over 1,200missing and murdered Indigenous women.

With powerful Western figures like Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper having spewed hateful vitriol, the increase in anti-Muslim sentiment is notable. But we go forward. We practice that jab, that block, that kick to an attacker's groin, again and again.

Konga wraps up the session lightheartedly and says: "This is just a small key. A key you can use to open the door and get out of danger."

We grabbed a coffee with Noor after the workshop to decompress and discuss the afternoon. I didn't want Jihad to feel burdened with a reality that seems grim. But she ordered two pieces of cheesecake and was her normal self.

Noor hasn't been attacked before, and I certainly hope both Jihad and I are also fortunate enough to never have to defend ourselves from a physical attack. Safety is not a privilege, it is a right. But sometimes you have to fight for it—you have to burst through the door to a safe space. And now at least Jihad has a key.

All photos courtesy Konga Fitness

Source: https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/the-key-to-fighting-gendered-islamophobia 

A new video by a British amateur filmmaker

Islam, women & Sport. from Dominic on Vimeo.

'It may take 10 years to tackle football's lack of diversity' - FA Council member Rimla Akhtar

Five months ago, Rimla Akhtar became the first Muslim woman on the FA Council. In a body which Football Association chairman, Greg Dyke, says is “overwhelmingly male and white”, Akhtar is seen as the ideal role model for the Asian community.

But, when I mention this, the 32-year-old chartered accountant smiles and says: “That’s up to others to decide.”

She is one of six women on the

121-strong FA Council, which helps decide major policy for the governing body, and her appointment comes at a time when the lack of diversity in positions of power within the game is a hot topic.

Yesterday’s report by the Sport Person’s Think Tank highlighted the problem with just 19 of the 552 ‘top’ coaching positions at ­English clubs being held by blacks and ethnic minorities. The only bosses are Chris Powell (right) at ­Huddersfield and Keith Curle at Carlisle.

“It is unacceptable that we have only two black League managers when something like 30 per cent of players within football are from the black community,” says Akhtar. “We need to see how we can open up football to more diverse managers. It’s a problem right across football, we also have very few black board ­members. Change does need to happen.”

It has been suggested that football should adopt its own version of the NFL’s Rooney Rule, whereby clubs must  interview at least one black or minority ethnic candidate for a managerial vacancy.

However, Akhtar says: “For me, ­quotas are a short-term strategy. I wouldn’t want to be selected for something because I’m a woman, because I’m Asian or because I’m Muslim. I would like to be selected on merit. I’ve had people really close to me, relatives even, that have said, ‘you do realise that you’re being included just because you wear the scarf’.

“In the long term, it’s about making the sports environment more inclusive. That’s what’s lacking right now. We need to get an inclusive mindset as well as action on the ground.”

Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/it-may-take-10-years-to-tackle-footballs-lack-of-diversity--fa-council-member-rimla-akhtar-9853069.html

Tour De Farm and BBQ: Join MADE’s first annual London to Oxford cycle ride

MADE in Europe is a Muslim youth-led organisation working to mobilise Muslim communities in the UK to live more ethically and sustainably. 

Join MADE for a 100km ride through the glorious Oxfordshire countryside to Willowbrook Farm ending with a delicious ethical BBQ of tayyib meat produced on the farm. Experience off­-the-grid sustainable living in action and explore Willowbrook Organic Farm, the UK’s first organic halal farm.

Get your friends and family to come along to spend the day on the farm and join you for the BBQ at the end of your journey. Everyone is welcome!

Please raise upwards of £100 for the cycle or just £12 for the farm visit and BBQ.   

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tour-de-farm-and-bbq-tickets-10585179557

Sarah Javaid

Executive Director

Feminizing fighting sports?

By Jasmijn Rana

Fouzia (the trainer) told us that we were not training hard enough, because she never saw anyone vomit in Ladies-Only kickboxing training. Naima, with whom I was training, responded: “But we’re girls, right? We don’t have to do exactly the same as they do in the men’s training?”   Fouzia answered elaborately by sharing a personal experience. One day, she was training with a new male pupil, who told her she could punch and kick as hard as she wanted because she was a girl. So, she did and she said she “totally destroyed him.” Naima just nodded and we continued the exercise. Then she whispered: “Well I don’t want to vomit. Do you?” I shook my head and we continued taking it easy. 

The phenomenon of Ladies-Only training contests the masculine practice of thai-/kickboxing by challenging the aggressive, competitive and painful nature of the sport. Participation of girls and women in this sport is often initiated as a form of ‘empowerment,’ both by local governments, incited by national policies, and by the gyms. The wider public tends to view kickboxing negatively as an overly aggressive sport. Yet in the case of women, kickboxing is perceived as emancipatory enskillment and as a form of self-defense. My research on female kickboxing practices in the Netherlands demonstrates how ideas of masculinity and femininity are contested and reproduced in sports.

Read the rest: http://www.culanth.org/fieldsights/489-sports-provocation

Cite as: Rana, Jasmijn. "Sports: Provocation." Fieldsights - Field Notes, Cultural Anthropology Online, February 10, 2014, http://www.culanth.org/fieldsights/489-sports-provocation

The Muslim women who are excelling at top-level sport

• 
• • Farah Jassat
  • guardian.co.uk, 

Salma Bi (right) … 'The main challenge is family support'. Photograph: Nick Wilkinsonk

On a recent weekday evening at London's Wembley Stadium, half a dozen Muslim women, some wearing headscarves, were taking it in turns to flip over some male opponents with impressive shoulder-height kicks.

These women, demonstrating Safari Kickboxing's female-only Muay Thai Kickboxing classes, were taking part in a ground-breaking celebration of Muslim women in sport. Pioneered by the Muslim Women's Sports Foundation (MWSF) and supported by the FA, the evening's Ambassador Awards showcased the diverse sporting talent of Muslim women across the UK and abroad.

"I cannot think of a better backdrop to these inaugural awards than Wembley," says the FA's chairman David Bernstein. "It is a stadium synonymous with achievement, excellence, inclusivity, variety and success … I've seen what Muslim women have achieved – it will be an inspiration for the wider community."

With awards ranging from UK Sportswoman of the Year to Volunteer of the Year, the MWSF is keen to recognise different forms of sporting success – both at professional and grassroots levels. The organisation strongly believes that faith and sport for both genders are entirely compatible and that the culture of sport is an essential part of Islamic history. Since its establishment in 2001 it has been at the forefront of encouraging physical activity amongst women from British ethnic-minority communities, particularly focusing on the cultural sensitivities of Muslim women.

So why aren't enough Muslim women getting involved in sports? The recurring theme seems to be cultural attitudes. Salma Bi, a 26-year-old cricketer, and the only female Muslim umpire at Level 1A, has founded her own coaching academy, and believes "the main challenge is the support of the family". It is much harder to excel in anything if your loved ones don't understand why it's important to you.

Moreover, concerns over maintaining modest dress and contact sports with members of the opposite sex can also make traditional sports clubs off-putting. Ayesha Abdeen, MWSF's Chief Executive says, "we found that Muslim women are the hardest to get active – if you can cater to their requirements, you can cater to anybody's".

Offering female only sports clubs or sessions has helped to combat this and provide opportunities where more Muslim women feel comfortable in enjoying sport. MWSF also allows mothers to bring their kids along to some training sessions.

Cultural barriers to participation were recently highlighted in Saudi Arabia, when the country refused to allow Saudi women to compete in the Olympics. The institutional barrier, by contrast, can be seen in Fifa's ban on women wearing hijab on the pitch. The Iranian women's football team could not complete their 2012 Olympic second-round qualifying match against Jordan because they refused to remove their headscarves.

The new awards will hopefully provide role models for other Muslim women. One such role model for many will be the MWSF's International Sportswoman of the Year, Ibtihaj Muhammad. She is an American sabre fencer and Olympic hopeful who has made the last two US World Championship teams is ranked second in the US and hopes to be the first Muslim woman representing the US in any sport whilst wearing hijab. Although she has said it is "extremely difficult being different in the sports world – be it for religion or race" issues of faith, race, gender and sport need not clash. "I would never fence if it compromised who I am and my religion – I love that the two work together."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2012/may/10/muslim-women-excelling-at-top-level-sport

Muslim-Friendly Gyms Divide Germany

The subject of how to treat Muslim school children when it comes to sport instruction is becoming an election topic.

CAIRO – German Chancellor Angela Merkel waded in a new controversy on Saturday, April 6, rejecting the idea of separate sport classes for Muslim girls and boys as sending a wrong signal on the country's “integration,” The Local newspaper reported.

“Integration is very important to the chancellor,” Georg Streiter, a government spokesman, told Rheinische Post newspaper.

“People being separated from one another is the opposite of integration,” he said.

The subject of how to treat Muslim school children when it comes to sport instruction is becoming an election topic.

The issue was raised when Peer Steinbrück, Merkel’s Social Democratic Party opponent in the September national vote, waded into what in the past has been a hornet's nest of controversy in Germany.

In comments given earlier this week, he expressed support for physical education classes in German schools to be divided by gender.

"If schools are able to do it, then they should," Steinbrück said in response to a question from the audience during a campaign appearance in Berlin, Der Spiegel reported.

A Reuters reporter noted that the comment was greeted with silence.

Steinbrück then added that the step should be taken "out of consideration for religious convictions."

Germany is believed to be home to nearly 4 million Muslims, including 220,000 in Berlin alone.

The country is Europe's second-biggest Muslim population after France, and Islam comes third in Germany after Protestant and Catholic Christianity.

Germans have grown hostile to the Muslim presence recently, with a heated debate on the Muslim immigration into the country.

A recent poll by the Munster University found that Germans view Muslims more negatively than their European neighbors.

In August 2011, Germany’s daily Der Spiegel had warned that the country is becoming intolerant towards its Muslim minority.

Opposition Chorus

Supporting Merkel’s attitude, Barbara John, formerly in charge of integration issues for the city-state of Berlin, joined the debade.

“Children and parents have to get used to the fact that genders here grow up together and live with the same rights," she told the newspaper Bild.

She was seconded by Serkan Tören, a member of the federal parliament with the Free Democrats, Merkel's junior coalition partner.

Tören, himself from Turkey, said that "dividing boys and girls is akin to dividing society.”

“Splitting classes by gender is also the wrong signal to send when it comes to integrating Muslims in Germany,” he added.

Even the Greens, ostensibly the SPD's allies in the campaign, have distanced themselves when Memet Kilic, a member of parliament and the Green's expert on integration issues, said that current rules governing physical education classes should not be changed.

Facing growing opposition, Steinbrück defended his statements while on a trip to Paris, saying he was not going to go back on what he said.

“Many Muslim parents solve the problem of sport instruction by calling their children in sick,” he told the Focus magazine.

“That also cannot be the solution.”

SPD General Secretary Andrea Nahles has also supported Steinbrück, noting that in her state of Rhineland-Pfalz the separation of the sexes for sport instruction “has long been the norm and takes place without a problem if the schools can organizationally deal with it and they want that.”

Source: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/462116-muslim-friendly-gyms-divide-germany.html

Interview with Kohistani by MWIS Blog available on Youtube

Here is an interview with Tahmina Kohistani, Aghani sprinter and the only female Olympian from Afghanistan participated London Olympics. The interview was conducted during London 2012 by Sertaç Sehlikoglu, MWIS blog.

This video is part of short documentary series which are produced in collaboration with Maslaha, a UK-based NGO working for Muslim communities in the UK and Ms Zeynep Yildiz, an independent filmmaker.

The interview is also part of my research project.

Photo Credit: www.telegraph.co.uk 

London mayor thanks Muslims for successful Olympics

By Murtaza Ali Shah

LONDON: London Mayor Boris Johnson has thanked thousands of Muslim Londoners for helping to deliver the successful London Olympics through full participation and for bringing pride to Britain.

The newly-elected London mayor invited leading representatives from London’s Muslim communities to an evening reception at City Hall to celebrate Eidul Azha as well as to thank the Muslims for winning medals, volunteering and being part of the preparations and celebrations of the games.

“This year has been amazing for Britain due to the Olympics. We saw Muslims of all ages took part in these games as London team ambassadors, game-makers, volunteers who helped us to deliver the greatest Olympics games ever. There were Muslims everywhere. There were Muslim athletes who brought sheer amazement to the games through their courage and endurance,” Johnson told the audience.

Boris said the greatest moment of the games came when Mohammad Farah won two medals for Britain and united the whole country in a way never seen before. “This is a guy who came to London at the age of 8 from Somalia, saw terrible times in Somalia, he is now a national hero, he’s a Muslim and it’s a fantastic thing. There was a unanimous support from this country for a young Muslim. This place has changed in our lifetime and it has changed for better.”

He said that lot of work needs to be done to fight Islamophobia and improve attitudes towards Muslims and the legacy of the 2012 Olympics is aimed at helping this process. He said the arrears around the Olympics venue, where thousands of Pakistanis live, is undergoing a massive regeneration but at the larger scale the legacy will result into a cohesive culture, improved transport and better services for all. He said he would like to see “more participation in sport in our city by young Muslim boys and girls”.

Senior Foreign Office minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi told the audience that Muslims had played their role in Britain’s national life starting from the World War 1 and continue to do so with passion. She said Pakistanis were prominent in the wars that were fought for Britain but they were also instrumental in reviving and rebuilding Britain’s economy in late 60s and 70s.

She pointed to the problems of Islamophobia and racism nearly 3 million Muslims in Britain face and thought that this country can become a better place when these challenges can be dealt with. She said she “fought” for her job in the FCO which also makes her responsible in relation to faith communities and how faith communities can be helpful in the progress of “our multi-cultural society”.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-140457-London-mayor-thanks-Muslims-for-successful-Olympics

Referee Opportunity for Women in UK

Free Women-only badminton in Southall, Middlesex UK

Beaconsfield Road, UB1 1DP Southall, Middlesex 

+44 (0) 20 8571 8871

Ruqsana Begum: Fighting For Her Sport

Ruqsana Begum has been quite literally fighting for her sport since she was just 18. The now 28-year-old East Londoner has spent a decade battling against her Muslim-Bengali origins to earn herself the title as Britain’s female Muay Thai champion, despite all the religious odds.

Holding her title in the amateur Atomweight division since November 2010 Ruqsana has gone from strength to strength. July 2011 saw her win gold at the European Clubs Cup in Latvia and recently she brought home a bronze from Russia after impressing at the IFMA (International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur) World Championships in September.

The tournament held in St. Petersburg saw the Team GB captain beat Ranini Cundasawmy from Mauritius before going on to bag the bronze after a close fight against the European Champion Chyslova Liudmila from Belarus, who went on to win silver.

Although she may have started out fighting in secret, Ruqsana’s passion for Muay Thai and her success now sees her family and community back her all the way. While she is not completely without her critics, her rising success has seen her fan base expand as she has become somewhat of an East London sporting hero.

The part-time school science technician has also turned her capable hands to coaching at the charity Fight for Peace, which uses boxing and martial arts to help rehabilitate some of London’s disadvantaged youngsters who turn to crime and gang violence.

Her success in the ring as well as her community commitment was recognised by The Muslim Women in Sport Foundation who shortlisted Ruqsana for the Sports Woman of the Year in 2012.

In 2013 Ruqsana is hoping to repeat her success at the Sport Accord World Combat Games and take the European Muay Thai title.

Ruqsana can be found tweeting at @BritishMuayThai. For more information please visit www.ruqsana-begum.com or contact ENS sports PR. 

Muslim sport volunteer from Harrow nominated for Woman of the Year

By David Hardiman, Reporter

A footballer who campaigns for more opportunities in sport for Muslim women has been recognised as a ‘woman of the year’.

Rimla Akhtar, 30, has been chairwoman of the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation in Station Road, Harrow, for seven years and works to make sport more accessible though providing female-only training sessions and coaching programmes.

The chartered accountant, who captained the British Muslim Women’s football team in 2005 and played cricket for her county as a teenager, has been selected as one of 400 women to be recognised by the Women of the Year scheme.

Ms Akhtar worked with Olympic organisers to advise them on female representation at London 2012, and recently helped to extend the charity’s programmes to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.

She said it was “lovely” to receive an invitation to the annual Women of the Year lunch, which recognises the achievements of those across the UK who are deemed to have made a special contribution.

She added: “I’m a grass roots girl at heart – I like to go about my work quietly and get on with what I need to do, so receiving this kind of recognition is incredibly pleasing on a personal level.

“Any event which brings women together to recognise our achievements is a fantastic one, and the lunch is such a unique opportunity to meet some remarkable individuals.”

Previous nominees for the scheme, which has been running since 1955, include Annie Lennox, Katie Piper and Lulu, and five of the 400 women will receive a special award for their efforts on October 22.

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/9978951.Muslim_sport_volunteer_nominated_for_Woman_of_the_Year/

Azerbaijan's Madinat Abdullayeva gives it her all!

Fantastic shot of  Azerbaijan's Madinat Abdullayeva competing in the discus final on September 4th at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Abdullayeva did not receive a medal but her effort and dedication to sport is an inspiration. 

Link: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/09/paralympics_2012.html