Sudan’s Islamic Fiqh Council bans formation of womens soccer team
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.
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)