(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In a bid to break cultural barriers, a sports tournament has been organized in Sydney to encouraging Muslim and non-Muslim women to cooperate to nurture a new generation of sporting leaders.
“Sport is seen as a more male-dominated zone so they don't really encourage females in their family or household to take part in that,” Assmaah Helal, Go Active coordinator, told SBS.
Assmaah is one of the coordinators who have long dreamed of offering Muslim women an opportunity to practice sports in an environment that respects their religious beliefs.
In the Go Active tournament, more Muslim and non-Muslims participants were encouraged to get involved for many reasons, including not having to worry about community expectations.
Men are also not allowed and there is no dress code in a private area.
Participants say the event has given them the courage to break through barriers.
“Playing a sport isn't just about the physical part of it,” former Afghan refugee Shegofa Hassani said.
“You also gain other skills like communication and leadership and confidence that will stay with you throughout your life.”
Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.
Islam is the country's second largest religion after Christianity.
First Time
Many participants praised the unique tournament for offering them a chance to practice sports for the first time in their life.
For tournament participant Ayse Akca it is the first time she has ever played sport.
“Now that I've finished school I wanted to get out there and be more active,” she told SBS.
As a Muslim Australian, she found an all-women's indoor event less confronting than other options.
“Just being close together, having fun with the girls and not having to worry about everything” are part of the appeal, Ms Akca says.
The family of Hassani, 17, has initially disapproved of her involvement.
“I pushed the boundaries basically,” Shegofa Hassani says.
“I didn't have their support but over the past five years I've gained their support, especially [from] relatives, which is a great thing because I can play the sport I love.”
Seening the sucess of the event, coaches and mentors announced plan for more events like this.
They say their aim is to foster a love of sport in more Muslim women so some can progress from a recreational level to an elite level.
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