Willowbrook, Illinois (CBS) — Many young Muslim girls have not played sports since childhood. Fights to obtain exceptions to uniform restrictions often require exemptions, leading to embarrassment and even denial.
Therefore, the girls felt that they had to choose between sports and faith.
Thanks to Chitaung Muslimah Athletics, some women now have a choice between faith and sport. For this year’s Arab American Heritage Month, CBS 2 met up with her four members of the group: Ayat Shkairy, Rin Salahi, Nagra Fetou, and Rand Diab.
They say their team is more than a sport.
“This is like a dream come true for me,” Diab said.
ChiTown Muslimah Athletics is a women’s Muslim athletics organization for women ages 23 and older. With nearly 300 members, teams have been organized to play or participate in pickleball, hockey, volleyball, baseball, tennis, badminton, the Hot Her Chocolate 5K Run, and more.
But there’s something even more special about it.
“It’s not just about athletic ability,” Salahi said. “The important thing is to find your place.”
Women can wear their religious attire and play sports that they were not able to do as adults.
“We always had to find an alternative to PE uniforms,” Salahi said. “They usually wear shorts and short sleeves, but we didn’t wear them.”
“Oftentimes we want to play sports in a private area, reserved for women only,” Diab said.
Illinois passed a comprehensive athletic attire law in 2021, allowing all Illinois student-athletes to change their uniforms for modesty, cultural, religious, or comfort reasons . This allows people to participate in athletics wearing hijabs, turbans, more modest swimwear, or pants rather than shorts.
Therefore, clothing is no longer a barrier to participation in athletics.
Chi-Town Muslimah Athletics said the bill’s passage is critical for Muslim girls who have been torn between their faith and sports, subject to “draconian uniform policies that violate their religious freedom.” said.
“Arab Americans come from a variety of backgrounds and religious backgrounds,” Diab said. “In particular, Muslims, who place a high value on modest clothing, are often restricted from playing sports.”
The women’s athletic club was established in 2017.
Salahi said its members are “women from all walks of life, from all parts of Chicago.”
Its mission is to invest in physical, emotional and spiritual health through sports and sisterhood, regardless of experience.
“As a kid, I never played organized sports,” Salahi said.
“Actually, I have played many sports since I was young, but one of the sports I stopped playing as an adult because I could not find the right atmosphere to play was softball,” Diab said. Told.
Inclusivity is at their core.
“People have built connections with each other, and the sisterhood has really lasted an incredibly long time,” Diab said.
Sport may unite women, but it represents so much more.
“I hope this sets a precedent for our daughters,” Salahi said. “I want them to grow up in a world where they can participate in sports and feel 100% comfortable doing it at their own pace, in their own space, and not have to worry about what other people think or what other people think. I sincerely hope so.”
The group is active year-round and typically performs multiple sports each season.