The first ever Gilgit-Baltistan Women Sports Gala commenced today on October 5, despite fierce opposition from local religious leadership who viewed the event as being 'un-Islamic'.
The event comprised of various sporting events, including cricket, basketball, tennis, badminton, squash, table tennis and hockey, and was held at the Lalik Jan Stadium in GB.
Prior to the event, religious leader Moulana Jalal Abid condemned the event, calling it 'un-Islamic'. He reportedly also objected to the venue for the event, which he said was an 'Eid-gah for Muslims'.
Pakistani cricketer Diana Baig responded to the religious leader's objections on Twitter, asking why these objections never arise when men's sporting events take place. "This ground is fit to host prayers, men’s boxing events, cultural dances and everything else but cannot host a women’s event," she said.
https://twitter.com/baig_diana/status/1576152719223463936
"Shouldn’t the space belong to women just as much as it belongs to everyone else who lives in Gilgit or will we continue to live under a rock and pretend that a woman stepping on the field is a taboo?" she asked.
The opposition comes despite the event not allowing any male audience members, as well as all organisers and participants being women.
However, today the event went ahead as scheduled, and concluded peacefully around 5 PM.
https://twitter.com/jamilnagri/status/1577557383399759872
https://twitter.com/Xadeejournalist/status/1577566030477631489
The event comprised of various sporting events, including cricket, basketball, tennis, badminton, squash, table tennis and hockey, and was held at the Lalik Jan Stadium in GB.
Prior to the event, religious leader Moulana Jalal Abid condemned the event, calling it 'un-Islamic'. He reportedly also objected to the venue for the event, which he said was an 'Eid-gah for Muslims'.
Pakistani cricketer Diana Baig responded to the religious leader's objections on Twitter, asking why these objections never arise when men's sporting events take place. "This ground is fit to host prayers, men’s boxing events, cultural dances and everything else but cannot host a women’s event," she said.
https://twitter.com/baig_diana/status/1576152719223463936
"Shouldn’t the space belong to women just as much as it belongs to everyone else who lives in Gilgit or will we continue to live under a rock and pretend that a woman stepping on the field is a taboo?" she asked.
The opposition comes despite the event not allowing any male audience members, as well as all organisers and participants being women.
However, today the event went ahead as scheduled, and concluded peacefully around 5 PM.
https://twitter.com/jamilnagri/status/1577557383399759872
https://twitter.com/Xadeejournalist/status/1577566030477631489