“Whatever the risk, I will not remove the hijab,” Miftahul, a national champion, was quoted as saying. “I’m feeling sad, yes, because I trained hard for the past 10 months, sometimes working so hard that I couldn’t even move my hands.


“But after all that, this is the result [disqualification]. The decision is made.”

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Some Facebook users agreed with the decision, saying safety was the main issue with one telling Miftahul to choose another sport.

An official tells Miftahul Jannah she cannot compete. Photo: Handout

“Why do you choose judo? Choose a sport that can use hijab. Don’t blame judo because these are their rules already.”

However, another responded that hijab-wearing Indonesian athletes won gold at August’s Asian Games in Jakarta in sports such as taekwondo and pencak silat.

“There should be no difference between Asian Games and Asian Para Games,” the user – who claims to have been on the Asian Games panel for jiujitsu, wrote. “Why should it be any different?

“When I was on the Asian Games panel for jiujitsu, athletes from the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Indonesia wore headscarves and there was no problem. They used a special hijab that was standardised. Why is it suddenly different?”

Miftahul Jannah. Photo: Istanapos

Senny Marbun, the president of the Indonesia’s national paralympic committee, was reluctant to say much, shifting the burden on to coach Latif.


“It’s very sensitive. Just ask the coach,” he was quoted as saying.

Latif, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the home camp pleaded with organisers to allow Miftahul to compete.


“The rule was only applied yesterday [Sunday] after a technical meeting,” said Latif. “We tried to fight for her case. The only reason for this rule is safety, they say.”