Basketball rule change allows wearing hijabs

By Doga Kirmizioglu

ANKARA

Basketball players will be allowed to wear headgear -- including the Islamic hijab -- in their matches, basketball's governing body announced Thursday.

The rule change takes effect on Oct. 1, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said in a written statement after a congress in Hong Kong.

"The new rule comes as a result of the fact that traditional dress codes in some countries -- which called for the head and/or entire body being covered -- were incompatible with FIBA's previous headgear rule," it added.

FIBA approved the initiative on Wednesday and the rule was formally ratified during Thursday’s session of the congress.

FIBA had initially banned 18-year-old Noha Berhan, who plays for Stockholm-based amateur league team Huddinge, from wearing a hijab during games in 2016 due to what it called "safety issues".

But Berhan’s cause, along with other female Muslim players across the world, was taken up in social media, putting pressure on FIBA. The hashtags #BackNoha and #FIBAAllowHijab quickly attracted support.