Noor: They were checking me and my teammates in per usual. The officials were checking our uniforms, making sure we didn’t have any uniform violations. The officials noticed a stripe on one of my teammates shorts which didn’t match the rest of the teams uniforms so they made her change into plain black shorts before the race. Immediately, I began to wonder if they were going to call on me next since I was wearing all black pants and hijab. I have been a student athlete my entire life, and every time we compete, the thought crosses my mind during uniform checks. At this point, the girl on my team changed her shorts and I was relieved that they had not said anything to me.

Then something suspicious was happening between my coach and the officials. I thought “why are they still talking about the shorts issue if it was resolved?” And again, the thought crossed my mind that maybe they were talking about me. My coach came over to the team and one of the officials looked at him and said, “don't tell her now wait till after.” NOW, my mind is fluttering with different thoughts regarding what the officials and my coach could be talking about. At this point, the race was about to start and I knew that I needed to clear my mind and focus on the race ahead. The race started and I started to run. I ran a great race and the thought never crossed my mind again. I finished my race, gave my teammates hugs, talked to people at the race and overall was having a great day. I found out my team was going to regionals and we were so happy so me and a couple of my teammates head over to the awards to get recognized then we head over to look at the placings of the race to see my time. As we looked closer,I realized my name wasn't on there. At this point, I’m confused and was confident that this was a mistake so I walk over to the rest of my team and say to
them, “hey guys my name isn't on the list.” They all stared at me blankly and finally they said, “you got disqualified.”

I did not immediately think anything of it I chuckled and asked, “why?” But they weren’t laughing, so one of the girls looks at me and says, “because of your hijab.”

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. I just walked away and my teammates didn't say anything else.

At that exact moment, my dad called me and I could not stop crying on the phone. I was humiliated, disappointed, rejected and in denial. I couldn’t believe what just happened. After talking to my dad I spoke to my coach and he explained to me that in order for me to race he would have had to fill out a waiver allowing me to race and he assured me that he will get this waiver signed and I will race at the regional invitational the following weekend which is this coming weekend.

I have been running for Sylvania Northview Highschool the entire season and wasn't told by any OSAA officials about my "uniform violation" until the district meet.

The officials did not give me the same respect that they gave my teammate who was also violating a rule when they told her to change her shorts and gave her the chance to fix her self. 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.

I feel like my rights as an athlete were violated this weekend because this rule does NOT exist in writing. I should not have to get a waiver signed and approved by OSAA to allow me to race due to my religious head covering. Hijabs are not specifically prohibited by OSAA rulings.
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It’s 2019, we’ve had a hijab wearing women represent America in the Olympics. How are we still being discriminated against due to religious head covering. Keep in mind, my cousin Noor was wearing a NIKE hijab. Which the company Nike Sportswear specifically created for women athletes. Please SHARE her story! #WeStandWithNoor

Sylvania Northview

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