Najah Aqeel, a Muslim 14-year-old high schooler, was disqualified from a volleyball match after the referee said she needed to have permission in advance to be able to play wearing a headscarf.
Aqeel told TODAY news:
"I was angry. It didn’t make any sense; I didn't understand why I needed permission to wear something for religious reasons."
The volleyball rule book written by the National Federation of State High School Associations states that "hair devices made of soft material and no more than 3 inches wide may be worn in the hair or on the head."
Despite the rule book mentioning that players "must have authorization from the state association to wear the hijab or other types of items for religious reasons as it is otherwise illegal.", Karissa Niehoff, executive director of NFHS thought the referee displayed poor judgement and said:
"Our rules were developed to prevent kids from wearing things that might be grabbed or somehow pose a safety risk. Health and safety is of the upmost importance. But we never want to see a young person experience something like this."
