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Female Muslim basketball player fights ban on headscarves
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Aug 25, 2014
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Female Muslim basketball player fights ban on headscarves
This week, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) will vote on whether to change its ban on Islamic headscarves. Players like Indira Kaljo, who wear headscarves for religious reasons, say the ban is discriminatory.
Basketball player Indira Kaljo is working to change the International Basketball Federation's ban on hijabs.
Basketball player Indira Kaljo.
(
Indira Kaljo
)

This week, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) will vote on whether to change its ban on Islamic headscarves. Players like Indira Kaljo, who wear headscarves for religious reasons, say the ban is discriminatory.

This week, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) will vote on whether to change its ban on Islamic headscarves. The organization says headscarves worn during play pose a safety issue and take away from team uniformity, but players like Indira Kaljo, who wear headscarves for religious reasons, say the ban is discriminatory. 

Kaljo has been playing basketball since she was 9-years-old and has played professionally in Europe. But since deciding to wear a hijab last year, her future career in basketball has come into question. She says that while she loves the game, if the ban isn't lifted, she'll have to hang up her shoes and retire.