Sudanese Women Chase Soccer Dream
2020-01-12
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1All her life, Elham Balatone wanted to play soccer like her brothers.
2However, in Sudan, where she lives, women could be arrested and beaten for putting on soccer clothing in the strict Muslim country.
3She played anyway.
4"There's nothing in this world that I love more than soccer. Please let me play," she said she told her family.
5For years, she and other women played secretly.
6Until now.
7Recently, Sudan's sports minister watched the women play in a sports center in the capital Khartoum where the country celebrated a new, official women's soccer league.
8Even Balatone's family was happy about it.
9The new league is about more than a game.
10Sudan is trying to move away from 30 years of leadership that followed Shariah, a strict understanding of Islamic law that limits what women can do.
11Officials are making changes after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.
12In November, officials canceled a "public order" law that, activists say, had been used to discriminate against women.
13But not everyone is happy. Some extreme religious conservatives are pushing back.
14Preacher AbdulHay Yousif and others have said permitting women to play soccer will "destroy religion and morals."
15"What manhood would allow a Muslim woman to appear before men...with her arms, legs...exposed and then run before them?" Yousif asked religious followers in October just as the league began.
16He also said Sudan's minister for sport and youth, a woman, "doesn't believe in what we believe in. He called her "an apostate."
17This has resulted in legal action between them.
18Another pro-Shariah group called on preachers to "expose the government's secularization plots."
19Critics argue that some conservatives are using the methods of the former president al-Bashir.
20They say he criticized political enemies using religious language to control women and stop change.
21Yousif's words have not affected the league.
22But Taghreed Awoda, an official for one of the teams, said the argument was a part of the greater fight for change.
23Awoda said "to have a women's soccer league play in Sudan," destroys the world al-Bashir created.
24Under al-Bashir, laws that controlled women and their clothing targeted the poor, uneducated and political activists, Awoda said.
25Women players were usually left alone if they played quietly although one group of women was arrested for a short time.
26"Now the moment has come when they can show people that women could play just like men," said Amany Anas, a player for the al-Tahadi team.
27The players said there is no conflict between their religion and soccer.
28"I pray and I perform my Islamic duties. I see no problem," Anas said.
29I'm Susan Shand.
1All her life, Elham Balatone wanted to play soccer like her brothers. 2However, in Sudan, where she lives, women could be arrested and beaten for putting on soccer clothing in the strict Muslim country. 3She played anyway. 4"There's nothing in this world that I love more than soccer. Please let me play," she said she told her family. 5For years, she and other women played secretly. 6Until now. 7Recently, Sudan's sports minister watched the women play in a sports center in the capital Khartoum where the country celebrated a new, official women's soccer league. 8Even Balatone's family was happy about it. 9The new league is about more than a game. Sudan is trying to move away from 30 years of leadership that followed Shariah, a strict understanding of Islamic law that limits what women can do. 10Officials are making changes after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. In November, officials canceled a "public order" law that, activists say, had been used to discriminate against women. 11But not everyone is happy. Some extreme religious conservatives are pushing back. 12Preacher AbdulHay Yousif and others have said permitting women to play soccer will "destroy religion and morals." 13"What manhood would allow a Muslim woman to appear before men...with her arms, legs...exposed and then run before them?" Yousif asked religious followers in October just as the league began. 14He also said Sudan's minister for sport and youth, a woman, "doesn't believe in what we believe in. He called her "an apostate." This has resulted in legal action between them. 15Another pro-Shariah group called on preachers to "expose the government's secularization plots." 16Critics argue that some conservatives are using the methods of the former president al-Bashir. They say he criticized political enemies using religious language to control women and stop change. 17Yousif's words have not affected the league. But Taghreed Awoda, an official for one of the teams, said the argument was a part of the greater fight for change. 18Awoda said "to have a women's soccer league play in Sudan," destroys the world al-Bashir created. 19Under al-Bashir, laws that controlled women and their clothing targeted the poor, uneducated and political activists, Awoda said. Women players were usually left alone if they played quietly although one group of women was arrested for a short time. 20"Now the moment has come when they can show people that women could play just like men," said Amany Anas, a player for the al-Tahadi team. 21The players said there is no conflict between their religion and soccer. 22"I pray and I perform my Islamic duties. I see no problem," Anas said. 23I'm Susan Shand. 24The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 25Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. 26________________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28soccer - n. a game (more commonly called football) played between two teams of 11 players in which a round ball is moved toward a goal usually by kicking 29strict - adj. demanding that people obey rules or behave in a certain way 30league - n. a group or club 31preacher - n. one who teaches religious views 32allow -v. to permit, to let happen 33expose - v. something that is open for everyone to see 34apostate - n. someone whose beliefs have changed and who no longer belongs to a religious or political group 35secularization - n. the process of removing religion from something