COLUMBUS, Ohio — Schools and school sports regulators could no longer require advance waivers or otherwise restrict participants’ religious apparel unless it causes a “legitimate danger” for fellow competitors, under a bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Mike DeWine.
The measure was inspired by an Ohio teen disqualified from a cross-country race because she was wearing a hijab without a required waiver.
Bill sponsor Sen. Theresa Gavarone, a Bowling Green Republican, researched the legislation after learning of the experience of Noor Abukaram, a runner at Sylvania Northview in suburban Toledo who was disqualified over her hijab in 2019.
At the time, Ohio High School Athletic Association rules banned most head coverings and caps unless competitors received religious exemption waivers in advance. Abukaram's coach acknowledged making a mistake by not obtaining a waiver but said he didn't think it was needed because it hadn't been an issue at prior races.
OHSAA has since changed its rules to let referees approve use of religious head coverings if a coach asks before a competition, without a formal waiver. Despite that change, Abukaram continued having problems with race officials, making the legislation necessary, according to Gavarone.
Statement from CAIR-Ohio Acting Executive Director Amina Barhumi
“This is a key step in ensuring Muslim students can participate in school sports and extracurricular activities without compromising their religious beliefs. This law is critical to protecting Ohio students and their religious expression of their faith. It comes at a particularly crucial time as we witness a rise in anti-Muslim discrimination and sentiment in our local and in our global communities, where we find that those who wear hijab are too often the target.”
