Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani, one of the first two female athletes sent to the Olympics by Saudi Arabia, will participate in the Olympic’s judo competition with a bare head.
“She will fight according to the principle and spirit of judo, so without a hijab,” International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer said.
Given that many Saudi Arabian clerics would rather their country’s women not compete at the Olympics — or exercise at all, since conservatives believe it’s wrong for women to spend time playing sports — it’s a given that this won’t go over too smoothly. Saudi woman to compete without Islamic headscarf.
