Nouhaila Benzina has become the first player to wear a hijab at the World Cup and thereby creating a history of her own.
The 25-year-old defender made her debut appearance in the present Women’s World Cup competition while donning an Islamic headscarf during her team’s 1-0 victory over South Korea. FIFA approved the use of head coverings for religious purposes in 2014.
A player has just now actually made use of this ruling, though. Morocco is one of eight teams making their debut in the Women’s World Cup this summer, therefore their participation in the competition is a huge achievement.
As the first athlete to do so at a senior women’s international competition, Benzina, a Moroccan club football player, has broken down barriers in the sport.
Prior to this, Benzina was not utilized as a substitute during Morocco’s 6-0 loss to Germany in their opening match. However, her performance on the field during the match against South Korea will go down in history and definitely serve as an inspiration to young girls and women all across the world.
The hijab generally refers to various headcoverings conventionally worn by most Muslim women. While a hijab can come in many forms, it often specifically refers to a headscarf, wrapped around the head and neck, covering the hair, neck, and ears but leaving the face visible.
Women must currently wear the hijab according to the legislation in Iran, Afghanistan, and the Indonesian province of Aceh. It is no longer necessary by law in Saudi Arabia as of 2018.
Other nations, both in Europe and the Muslim world, have enacted laws that forbid wearing any kind of hijab in public or in particular settings. Unofficial pressure to wear or not wear a hijab has also been encountered by women around the world.
The hijab resembles the tichel or snood worn by Orthodox Jewish women, as well as several headdresses worn by some Christian women, including the mantilla, apostolnik, and wimple and the dupatta worn by many Hindu and Sikh women.
