SAUDI ARABIA: BASKETBALL - Young women playing basketball in Jeddah run the risk of society's disapproval, but hope to lead the way for women playing sport in the strict Islamic state

Record ID: 188930

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: BASKETBALL - Young women playing basketball in Jeddah run the risk of society's disapproval, but hope to lead the way for women playing sport in the strict Islamic state
  • Date: 13th March 2012
  • Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (MARCH 10, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS MEMBERS OF JEDDAH UNITED FEMALE BASKETBALL TEAM PUTTING THEIR HANDS TOGETHER AND CHANTING 'JU' (JEDDAH UNITED) PLAYERS STANDING TALKING ON BASKETBALL COURT VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING MEMBER OF JEDDAH UNITED BASKETBALL TEAM TALKING TO A PLAYER. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JEDDAH UNITED TEAM FOUNDER AND COACH, LINA AL-MAEENA, SAYING: ''The role of women's sport is very important, because according to the statistics and figures that we hear from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization regarding illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease -- 19 billion riyals are spent by the Ministry of Health on treatments for these diseases.'' YOUNGEST PLAYER, JAWAHER AL-AMODE AT SIDE OF COURT/ PLAYERS TALKING PLAYER THROWING BALL TO BASKET BALL DROPPING THROUGH BASKET PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JAWAHER AL-AMODE, THE YOUNGEST PLAYER IN THE JEDDAH UNITED TEAM,SAYING: ''I think this is very good. Women must participate in sport. Everyone must support women's sport, because it is healthy for all, especially since there are many people who complain of obesity, and as they say, a healthy mind is in a healthy body.'' PLAYERS AND COACHES STANDING ON COURT GETTING READY FOR PRAYERS, PRAYING PLAYERS RUNNING TOWARDS END OF COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ANHAR AL ABDALI, BASKETBALL PLAYER, SAYING: "The problem we have is social obstacles. People have a negative view of sport (for women), rather than looking at it as a gift religion has given us. They forget about everything and focus on how sport means a woman leaves her home, and they say: 'How can she play sport? The next thing you know she will swim.' But as long as the woman is wearing a veil and covers her body and covers her hair and does not depart from the framework of the Islamic religion, what's the problem if she plays sports in the framework of religion?" PLAYERS TALKING AND WATCHING OTHERS PLAYING. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ANHAR AL ABDALI, BASKETBALL PLAYER, SAYING: "Also some families do not allow their daughters to play sport because the society says these things, so many girls are deprived of playing sport for this reason." VARIOUS OF GIRLS PLAYING BASKETBALL AS DUSK FALLS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMAD ANNAN, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF THE FIRST WOMEN'S SPORT NEWS PAPER, SAYING: "There is no doubt that women in Saudi Arabia have recently taken serious steps to gain more rights, political, cultural and social rights, and, recently, at the sports level. The development of Saudi women has increased, particularly in the last two decades, and this tendency on the rise." PLAYERS TRAINING BALL GOING THROUGH HOOP
  • Embargoed: 28th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7BMEQS0PGDOTQL36YSNFTEEBC
  • Story Text: The young women who play for Jeddah United have a simple ambition - to play basketball without fear of society's disapproval.
    The image of the women on court pounding basketballs wouldn't merit a second glance in many countries.
    But in Saudi Arabia, where girls are banned from sports in state schools, powerful clerics castigate women for exercising and female gyms must adhere to strict regulations, their ambition to play basketball - let alone represent the country in international tournaments - is a bold political statement.
    ''The role of women's sport is very important, because according to the statistics and figures that we hear from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization regarding illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease -- 19 billion riyals are spent by the Ministry of Health on treatments for these diseases,'' Jeddah United coach and founder Lina al-Maeena told Reuters.
    She's echoed by the team's youngest player.
    ''I think this is very good. Women must participate in sport. Everyone must support women's sport, because it is healthy for all, especially since there are many people who complain of obesity, and as they say, a healthy mind is in a healthy body,'' said Jawaher al-Amode.
    Female participation in sports has long been a controversial issue in the conservative Islamic kingdom, which on February 15 was lambasted by Human Rights Watch for never having sent a woman athlete to the Olympics.
    The stance of the official Supreme Council of Religious Scholars is represented by Sheikh Abdullah al-Maneea, who said in 2009 that the excessive "movement and jumping" needed in football and basketball might cause girls to tear their hymens and lose their virginity.
    Sports in the patriarchal society of Saudi Arabia has long been reserved as an activity for men. Many stadiums for watching sports prohibit females to be present.
    Women are able to play in the privacy of their homes or in private schools but as soon as they step beyond that to play professionally or in organised teams in public competitions they are publicly slammed for going against what is perceived as their natural role.
    Newspaper articles that refer to such women as "shameless" when they play sports are a cause of great embarrassment for the women of Jeddah United and their families. Some have even received text messages advising them to stay at home and tend to their household duties as mothers and wives.
    "The problem we have is social obstacles. People have a negative view of sport (for women), rather than looking at it as a gift religion has given us. They forget about everything and focus on how sport means a woman leaves her home, and they say: 'How can she play sport? The next thing you know she will swim.' But as long as the woman is wearing a veil and covers her body and covers her hair and does not depart from the framework of the Islamic religion, what's the problem if she plays sports in the framework of religion?," says Anhar al Abdali, who plays with Jeddah United, set up in 2003 to promote women's fitness.
    When Jeddah United returned from a tournament in which they played the Jordanian national team, in 2009, a local newspaper published their photograph under the headline: "Shameless girls."
    "Also some families do not allow their daughters to play sport because the society says these things, so many girls are deprived of playing sport for this reason," Anhar al-Abdali says.
    The pressure against women in sports is intense and comes from senior figures in a clerical establishment that is closely allied to the ruling al-Saud family.
    In 2010, Sheikh Abdulkareem al-Khudair, who also sits on the Supreme Council for Religious Scholars, renewed a religious edict banning sports for women, which he said "will lead to following in the footsteps of the devil."
    He said it is not permitted to request that the government introduce sports in schools for girls because such activity is forbidden in Islam. Such comments from a high ranking cleric have immense influence in the monarchy, which rules in alliance with the conservative clerics.
    The religious pressure is so great that even female gyms have to wear a non-sporting fig leaf, masquerading as "health centres" that are regulated not by a national sports body but by the Health Ministry.
    Fees are so high, at a minimum of 1,000 riyals (266 U.S. Dollars) a month, that only the affluent can afford membership. In 2009 a clampdown on unlicensed female gyms gave rise to a women's rights campaign in newspapers and blogs, with the sarcastic slogan "Let her get fat!"
    Liberal Saudis consider women who participate in sports to be pioneers and encourage the women to play regardless of the obstacles.
    But the lack of facilities for women is a significant barrier in a country where gender segregation is strictly enforced.
    While girls' state schools are barred from teaching physical education and consequently have no sports facilities, some private schools and private universities are very well equipped.
    The 200-member strong Jeddah United practices in one of the few courts available for women, surrounded by five-meter (16-foot) concrete walls, which it rents for 7,000 to 10,000 riyals a month. Members get training and the opportunity to play three times a week for a monthly fee of 600 riyals.
    After King Abdullah moved last year to bring women into the country's political process, however, there have been some signs authorities may allow sportswomen to compete internationally and make it easier for girls to exercise.
    The HRW report said the National Olympic committee had "indicated" it would not stop women athletes taking part in the Games if they were invited, and speculation has been rife that the government will send equestrian Dalma Malhas to compete in this years Olympics in London.
    The editor of a new women's sports magazine says times are changing.
    "There is no doubt that women in Saudi Arabia have recently taken serious steps to gain more rights, political, cultural and social rights, and, recently, at the sports level. The development of Saudi women has increased, particularly in the last two decades, and this tendency on the rise," says Mohammad Annan.
    The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority told Reuters earlier this year there are plans to introduce after-hours physical education classes for both girls and boys.
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