Dunia Cinta

Religious accommodation hits the playing field
Debate resurfaces after an 11-year-old is ejected from a Quebec soccer match for wearing a hijab

An 11-year-old soccer player from Ottawa was ejected from a tournament match in Laval, Quebec over the weekend for refusing to remove her hijab, renewing the debate over religious accomodations. The controversial move prompted even Premier Jean Charest to weigh in on the debate in support of the referee’s decision.

"My understanding is that the referee applied the rules of the soccer federation and that’s why that decision was made," Charest said.

The ejection comes as the accomodations issue has been stoking passions across the province and in the wake of the Hérouxville charter denouncing any special considerations for religious or ethnic minorities in that small town. Though the referee’s decision also met with Action Democratique du Quebec leader Mario Dumont’s approval, it was denounced by others as excessive.

 
"Strongly, I do think so," the girl’s mother, Marie Mansour said when asked if she thought the incident was racially motivated. "Because soccer is soccer whether it’s in Ontario or Quebec or Europe and it’s not right at all to not allow a Muslim girl who’s proud of her religion to play soccer, a sport she loves so much.

"It took a lot out of me to see my daughter in the middle being humiliated in front of a lot of people."

Valmie Ouellet, the co-ordinator of regional technical services for the Quebec Soccer Federation, said the referee was simply applying FIFA rules by asking the girl to remove her hijab. Ouellet insisted the rules were being applied the same way with everyone, regardless of their religion or ethnic origin.

"That’s in the same law and if I was a fervent Catholic and I wanted to wear my chain and my crucifix around my neck for the game, I wouldn’t be allowed to do so for the same safety reasons," he said.

"Sometimes when we make some choices according to faith, it is possible that along the line we won’t be able to do everything we want to do. That’s unfortunate but that is a possibility."

According to the Ottawa Citizen, the girl’s team, along with three others from Ottawa, promptly quit the tournament in protest.

"It’s her religion and she can’t just take it off," Sarah Osborne, one of Mansour’s teamates, said. "This is not fair. We’re only 11. We just wanted to play soccer."

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Quebec Soccer Federation told Reuter’s that the rule is based on a Canadian Soccer Association rule banning all jewellery and headgear. The spokesman said the Quebec Federation would allow Muslim players to wear headscarves if the CSA clarified its position.

The Ontario Soccer Association told CBC News that it allows Muslims to wear headscarves as an exception to a Soccer Canada rule that headgear not wrap around the neck for safety reasons.

At a meeting in Manchester over the weekend, the International Football Association Board(the governing body responsible for international soccer rules)upheld the Quebec Soccer Federation’s ban on the hijab. Board member Brian Barwick said it came down to a basic application of the rulebook: "there’s a set of laws and rules - and Law 4 outlines basic equipment."

Board members nonetheless seemed keenly aware of the delicate and controversial nature of the case. According to reports, the final decision was preceded by a "heated discussion" and Barwick acknowledged the difficulty in legislating the matter.

"It’s absolutely right to be sensitive to people’s thoughts and philosophies,'’ he said. "But, equally, there has to be a set of laws that are adhered to - and we favour Law 4 being adhered to.'’

Meanwhile, CBC reports that some Liberal Muslims in Quebec are disappointed with Charest’s comments. "We would much rather hear from Mr. Charest things along the lines of integration, and having our kids feel part of all the activities, whether it’s soccer or at school or any other type of activities," said Maher Bissany, a Liberal supporter.

Parti Québécois leader Andre Boisclair also came out against Charest’s position, claiming this is essentially a dispute between two private parties and none of the Premier’s business. He accused Charest of using the issue as a "sideshow" to distract from his usual silence on the larger issue of "reasonable accommodations" for minority groups.

With files from Canadian Press