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    30
    Jul
    2012
    5:33pm, EDT

    Saudi Olympian allowed to compete in judo wearing hijab

    Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters file

    Saudi Arabia's Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani.

    By NBC News staff and news services

    LONDON -- One of Saudi Arabia's first two female Olympians will compete in judo after a deal was reached on an acceptable design for her Islamic headscarf, or hijab, officials said on Monday.

    Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani had said she would not compete in the +78 kilograms (172 pounds) category on Friday unless she was allowed to wear the hijab, but judo officials had refused her request, saying it would be dangerous.

    "All three parties agreed this afternoon on the headscarf and she will compete," Razan Baker, a spokeswoman for the Saudi National Olympic Committee, told Reuters. "They agreed on a design and she will compete wearing this design."


    Shaherkani and Sarah Attar, an 800-meter runner, are the first Saudi women to take part in the Olympics.

    The Judo Federation ruled one of Saudi Arabia's first female Olympic athletes will not be allowed to wear a hijab in the judo competition. Human Rights Watch advocate Minky Worden reacts.

    Saudi Arabia was one of three countries, along with Brunei and Qatar, never to have sent female athletes to the Olympics. After talks with the IOC, all three sent delegations this year that include women.

    Reuters contributed to this report.

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    2 comments

    It is good to see that they were able to agree on new design that would satisfy both parties. These women showed their determination in getting here and we have all been wanting to see women allowed from these countries so this is a win, win. Hope they all 3 do GREAT!

    Show more
    Explore related topics: olympics, saudi, arabia, hijab
  • 10
    Dec
    2011
    6:40pm, EST

    2,080 lashes for Saudi man who raped daughter

    By The Associated Press

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- An official Saudi newspaper says a man convicted of raping his daughter has been sentenced to receive 2,080 lashes over the course of a 13-year prison term.

    The court in the holy city of Mecca found the man guilty of raping his teenage daughter for seven years while under the influence of drugs.

    The Okaz newspaper reported Saturday that the man will receive the lashes in stages throughout his prison sentence. The man's name was not published.

    Saudi religious police say the girl's uncle tipped them off to the crime.

    Lashing is one of the penalties available to the clerics who serve as judges in Saudi Arabia and issue rulings according to the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islamic law.

    Read more content from msnbc.com and NBC News:

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    © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    510 comments

    Wondering what worse hell her life will now be now that it's out she's no longer a virgin...isn't she considered "damaged" property?

    Show more
    Explore related topics: sentencing, saudi, sex-assault, mecca, arabia, incest, lashings

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