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January 23, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Islamic Fiqh Council in Sudan issued a fatwa (religious order) saying that it is forbidden for the country to create a womens soccer team, deeming it an immoral act.
- Yoanis Linares Reyes of Cuba’s multi-coloured hair flies during the second half of their CONCACAF Women’s Olympic qualifying soccer match against Haiti in Vancouver, British Columbia January 23, 2012 (Reuters)
The religious authority said that any request made by FIFA in this regard is not an excuse to bypass Sharia’a law or grant any exception.
This ruling was in response to an opinion asked for by Al-Sheik Dafalla Hassab al-Rasool who is a member of the legislative and justice committee in the parliament. He said that the national assembly will soon summon the relevant authority for a hearing on the matter.
The Islamic Fiqh Council said in its decision that it had previously made a similar fatwa, in 2006, by which it banned the establishment of a soccer league for women.
It added that for Sudanese females to go play soccer in Africa, Asia and Europe is a breach of Sudanese ethics and values.
Last November Sudan participated in a seminar that took place in South Africa which discussed women soccer in Africa and challenges faced.
Sudan was represented by Laila Khalid who is a member of the country’s soccer association. At the time she stated that she hopes the seminar reflects positively on female soccer in Sudan.
(ST)
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