Basketball’s governing body has changed its laws to allow players to wear hijabs during games.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) had previously banned the wearing of headgear.
In a statement on its official website FIBA said: “The new rule comes as a result of the fact that traditional dress codes in some countries — which called for the head and/or entire body being covered — were incompatible with FIBA’s previous headgear rule.”
Qatar’s women’s basketball team withdrew from the 2014 Asian Games after being forbidden from wearing hijabs. The squad was asked to remove their Islamic headscarves and refused, forfeiting its match with Mongolia. FIBA insisted its laws held no religious connotation in the wake of the resulting protest.
Soccer’s world governing body FIFA lifted its ban on headgear in 2014
