London, January 14: Muslim and Sikh groups in Britain are fighting a ban imposed by the boxing panel on players growing beards, a decision they dismiss as disrespectful to the sensitivities of religious minorities.
“We have beards so we can’t fight, that’s not a good reason for it,” Sheryar, a young Muslim boxer from the northwestern city of Bolton, told.
“You can’t destroy someone’s career because of his beard.”
The Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) announced last month a total ban on having beards in the boxing ring, citing safety conditions.
It came almost a year after Mohammed Patel, a 25-year bearded Muslim boxer from Bolton, was stopped from competing.
At that time, ABAE rules stated that only Sikh fighters were exempt, so the Bolton Council of Mosques challenged the ABAE on Patel’s behalf.
Islamic Ruling on Growing Beard
“Mohammed was actually very upset,” said Inayat Omarji, Children and Young People’s manager at Bolton Council of Mosques.
“He was really, really down.”
The latest ruling stipulates that beard ban applies to all boxers from any religion.
“The ruling has come from our international governing body – the International Amateur Boxing Association,” Barry Jones, ABAE’s national child protection and equity manager, told.
“It has nothing to do with race, only health and safety.”
The ABAE official said the previous exclusion of Sikh boxers was a mistake.
“That… was an error of judgment in my opinion. They didn’t consider the implications.”
Insensitive
“It’s a perverse retrograde step that should be challenged,” Singh said. The Sikh community is now joining Muslims in protesting and challenging the ABAE ban.
“I was astounded that they should make a ruling that is so insensitive, knowing that it will disadvantage at least one religious community,” said Indarjit Singh, director of the Network of Sikh Organizations.
“It’s a perverse retrograde step that should be challenged.”
Singh noted that the beard has never been a matter of concern before though many boxers wore it.
“It’s a sport and it has some risks but the hair does not really in any way increase those risks.”
The British Boxing Board of Control, the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom, has ruled out similar ban on professional boxers, citing respect for religious diversity in the country.
Omarji, the Muslim community activist, laments that the ABAE is not showing the same respect for religious and cultural sensitivities.
“And in this day and age, they have to accept and work with the different communities.”
-Agencies