Top Bahrain runner Maryam Yusuf Jamal has been defended by the Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA) after she came under fire from an MP, who said her sportswear was indecent.
MP Hamad Al Muhannadi said in the local Press that it was unacceptable for Ms Jamal to represent Bahrain in shorts and a sports vest, which left her stomach and arms uncovered, because it would give the country a bad reputation.
But BAA vice-president Mohammed Jamal said the association was already planning to give new sportswear to Ms Jamal, which covered her stomach and her legs down to the knee.
He added that Ms Jamal, who is originally Ethiopian, wasn’t a Muslim anyway.
“She is learning about Islam and may convert, but at the moment she is a Christian,” he said.
Mr Jamal said some types of races required athletes to wear certain types of clothing to retain their competitive edge.
He added that he would not allow MPs to bully the association.
“We already planned the new clothes from before,” he said. “But if we thought for a moment that they would hurt her performance, we would not introduce them.”
Mr Al Muhannadi was outraged when he saw Ms Jamal’s picture in newspapers after she won the 3,000 metres race at the Oslo Golden League on Monday.
She won gold after clocking in at eight minutes and 29.87 seconds.
He told the GDN that it didn’t matter to him that Ms Jamal wasn’t a Muslim – saying Bahrain’s laws are based on Sharia teachings according to the constitution.
“It will present a bad reputation for the country because it will make people think these kinds of clothes are normal here,” said Mr Al Muhannadi.
“I know that many Bahraini girls wear shorts, but that doesn’t make it right.”
When questioned about whether he thought all athletes should wear headscarves according to Islamic law, he said this was not what he was suggesting.
However, he did say that women should not take part in sports that require them to dress or behave in an “un-Islamic” way.
Ms Jamal left Oslo yesterday to take part in the 1,500-metre race at the World Athletics Championship, which begins in Helsinki tomorrow.
GDN :: Tariq Khonji :: 4 Aug ’05
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Athlete backed over dress row
What is indecent is the thoughts of this stupid MP who has nothing better to do than waste time and money of the public on suhc petty issues if you can call it an issue. Her clothes are not eortic not titilating. She does not need anyones apporval to feel comfortable and aerodynamic when running.
Why to you think men wear boxers under their thobe? It is becuase they cannot control their boners and do not want to show it in public, although on a windy day much is revealed to disgust the public view.
Athlete backed over dress row
I love how he thinks that when people see Mayram, they’ll think that everyone else wears the same thing. Like we crawled out from under our tents mere minutes before the starting gun and hey presto what a coincidence, our sleepwear is the same your running wear!
Athlete backed over dress row
I just fell into this site after following a few links. After reading this article I did feel a stronger sense of pride for my country, The USA. I really enjoy my ability to choose what I wear. And even to choose which sport event I will participate in. I guess it come down to social engineering. Here in the states the government has very few laws describing how we are to live our life day to day, it’s up to each citizen to decide for them selves. Most things I have seen in my short life can not be judged black or white, but with the law it can. If the law says that citizens must cover their stomach, legs, arms and head, than exceptions can not be made for the headscarves. I think Ms. Jamal should wear a full robe. Cover it all up. It’s completely embarrassing to be able to see a women’s skin. I’m sorry that was not funny.
Outsider Looking In
USA
Athlete backed over dress row
Excuse me for posting late; I have just found this blog. This comment by the MP does not make any sense: “it was unacceptable for Ms Jamal to represent Bahrain in shorts and a sports vest, which left her stomach and arms uncovered, because it would give the country a bad reputation.”
What are all the other runners wearing? evening gowns? Nobody thinks badly of a country that has runners in competition wearing running shorts. Just the opposite. Bahrain would get a bad reputation if their women athletes was forbidden to dress in “appropriate” running attire.