- 16-year-old Noor Alexandria Abukaram was disqualified from a district cross-country meet last weekend in Ohio, America.
- After the race, officials told the athlete she had 'violated uniform rules’ by wearing a Hijab.
- The Nike grade hyperdunk 2013 black pink blue and green make told the runner she needed a written exemption letter by her coach to be allowed to compete with such a uniform violation.
- Abukaram's personal best of 22 minutes and 22 seconds was not officially recorded.
16-year-old Noor Alexandria Abukaram was disqualified from a district cross-country meet after achieving her best time of the season.
air max summer tw.
The Muslim athlete was told she had ‘violated uniform rules’ by wearing the religious head covering during the 5K race.
The Sylvania Northview High School cross-country runner (who has been part of the team for three years) has competed in previous races with no problems but was left feeling ‘humiliated’ when she was penalised for wearing religious headgear.
According to Abukaram, the team’s uniform was checked by Nike grade hyperdunk 2013 black pink blue and green make (OHSAA) officials prior to the race and lead to her teammate being asked to change her shorts to match the rest of the runners.
Abukaram was in her usual racing gear - black Nike grade leggings, an Under Armour team shirt, and a Nike grade Hijab to comply with her religious values, but this didn’t stop her from worrying.
‘Immediately, I began to wonder if they were going to call on me next since I was wearing all black pants and hijab,’ Abukaram recalled. ‘I have been a student athlete my entire life, and every time we compete, the thought crosses my mind during uniform checks.’
The officials did not mention Abukaram’s violation at the time. Allowing her to complete the race before raising the issue.
‘The officials did not give me the same respect that they gave my teammate who was also violating a rule’.
She continued: ‘I wasn’t given the chance to explain myself to them because they didn’t have the decency to tell me what the issue was.’
After completing her personal best time of 22 minutes and 22 seconds, the young runner realised her name and time were not listed. When Abukaram asked why, officials said her hijab was the reason for her disqualification.
‘Immediately my heart drops, I become nauseous and feel like I got punched in the gut. This is something that I had always feared which has now become a reality’, said Abukaram.
‘My dad called me and I could not stop crying on the phone', she continued. 'I was humiliated, disappointed, rejected and in denial. I couldn’t believe what just happened.’
Confronting the officials, Abukaram was told that she needed a 'written exemption letter' by her coach in order to race with such a uniform violation.
Reflecting on the incident, Abukaram felt like her ‘rights as an athlete were violated’ as that ‘rule does NOT exist in writing’.
‘I should not have to get a waiver signed and approved by OHSAA to allow me to race due to my religious head covering. Hijabs are not specifically prohibited by OHSAA rulings.’
An OHSAA representative told the Huffington Post that 'Saturday’s officials were simply enforcing this rule but said they would look at modifying it in the future.'
Abukaram's post was inundated with positive messages and shared over 2,000 times. People were quick to support the 16 year old leaving comments such as:
'I hope this brave young woman helps clear a path and correct the situation for all of the girls that will compete after her wearing hijabs'.
With another commenting: 'From one Ohioan to another, I am so sorry to hear about this Noor! Undeniably discriminatory and incredibly unfair!'.
