Muslim rights body condemns ban on hijabi soccer player

The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), a national Muslim civil rights organization, today called the decision by the l’Outaouais soccer association to ban a Muslim player, Rayane Benatti, 9, from participating in a local soccer tournament, a violation of Canada’s human rights codes.

Rayane Benatti wears the hijab, an Islamic headscarf. In making this decision, the association cited the fact that they had not received confirmation from FIFA (soccer’s international governing body) regarding the type of hijab that is acceptable to wear during play. FIFA announced in early July that it had lifted its rule banning the wearing of headscarves.

“Although CAIR-CAN welcomed FIFA’s recent approval of headscarves for female Muslim players, we have always maintained that FIFA’s mandate and decrees do not and never have superseded the human rights of Canadian soccer players. Canadians have the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of religion, irrespective of what any outlying international governing body decides,” said CAIR-CAN Human Rights & Civil Liberties Officer Julia Williams.

“Various soccer associations in Quebec, and now most recently the l’Outaouais soccer association, have been tenacious in their exclusion of female Muslim players in the province. Their obstinate refusal to allow Muslim players wearing the hijab to participate in the sport has no basis in any evidence that the headscarf poses a hazard to players.”

“We call on the l’Outaouais soccer association to do the right thing and allow Rayane Benatti her right to play.”