India’s ace shooter Heena Sidhu has pulled out of an Airgun competition in Iran over compulsory hijab rule. The tournament, Asian Airgun Shooting Championship, is scheduled to be held in December in Tehran.
Defending champion Heena Sidhu has withdrawn from the shooting championship because of Iran’s insistence on female contestants adhering to the dress code according to which it is mandatory for female participants to wear the ‘hijab’.
“Forcing tourists or foreign guests to wear ‘hijab’ is against the spirit of the game. Since I don’t like it, I have withdrawn my name,” Heena said while speaking to the Times of India.
“You follow your religion and let me follow mine. I’ll not participate in this competition if you are going to force me to comply with your religious beliefs,” she added.
The organisers have made it clear on their official website that the female contestants will have to wear clothes in compliance with the rules of the Islamic Republic of Iran.