http://www.aafaq. org/english/ aafaq_today. aspx?id_news= 157

By: Aafaq.org
Published : 14/5/2008 12:03

(Riyadh – Aafaq) The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals has
suspended its special women’s athletic program because of heavy pressure and
criticism from by religious hardliners, who have denounced the participation
of girls in sports and athletics and demanded the abolition of the sports
program once and for all.

According to the Saudi newspaper “Al-Watan,” the university had planned to
begin the program this week. Last week, the university’s department of
Community Service and Sporting Events issued an invitation via e-mail to
faculty members and staff and posted notices in university faculty housing,
inviting participation in the program. The notice stipulated that
applicants must be over the age of 10 and pay a fee of 150 Saudi riyals.

The invitation indicated that the program, called “The Third Training
Session in Various Sports,” comprised five sports (volleyball, basketball,
soccer, badminton and exercises), would continue for four weeks. It was
planned that these programs would on the Saturday and Monday of each week.

For an earlier article in Aafaq on the subject of women’s sports in Saudi
universities see:

“Emir of the Saudi Eastern Province Bows to Fundamentalist Pressure:
Reprimands University Rector for Allowing Women’s Football
<http://www.aafaq. org/english/ aafaq_today. aspx?id_news= 129> .”

 

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