Muslim teen boxer wins right to fight wearing a hijab

An aspiring teenage Muslim boxer has finally won her right to fight wearing a hijab in the ring after she was told last year that it was “unsafe” and the leggings that covered her knees were deemed to be a hazard.

“I signed up to my first boxing match almost a year ago and prepared for four months prior to my fight," Raianne Alameddine said, speaking to Daily Mail Australia in-between her HSC exams. “However, two weeks before we got a letter saying we weren't allowed to fight if we wanted to wear our hijabs under our head gear, or if we were to wear skins that covered our knees.”



She added, “It seems pretty funny when you think about it, because there is no hazard that could come from wearing a scarf or skins, but they said it was ‘unsafe’ and the rules didn't allow it. You could imagine our reaction to this - to have trained so hard and for everything to become official, then to be told we weren't allowed to fight because of something we need to wear and can't just take off for a match.” 

Determined: Despite being knocked back for her first fight, Raianne never gave up hope of stepping into the ring. PHOTO: DAILY MAIL

But despite this obstacle, the 17-year-old was determined to test herself in the ring and last Saturday became the first amateur boxer in New South Wales to fight wearing a head scarf. She fought in front of a 600-strong crowd in a fierce bout last Saturday, although no winner was declared because it was an exhibition fight.



“Thankfully I was lucky enough to be accepted and was able to fight last week which is a massive relief and thrill,” she said. “It just goes to show. The fact I came out safe and there were no hazards with me fighting with my scarf on proves it should be allowed all around the world and in every book of rules.”

Raianne learned to box at Sydney's Final Round Gym after falling in love with the sport as she watched UFC fights on television. She first trained in Muay Thai kickboxing but picked up the gloves with the encouragement of trainer Hassan El-Achrafi.

“Growing up with an elder brother, I would always admire him when he would come home from a training session at the gym and explain to me what he did that day. It inspired me to want to start training and I always wanted to have that independence to be able to defend myself.” Raianne said she wanted to encourage other females to pick up the gloves and start boxing.



Raianne currently works as a part-time trainer at Final Round Gym and said her family were hugely encouraging of her choice to fight. “When I first signed up my family knew how determined I was so they accepted what I wanted to do and they have been supportive since. In my family and community as a whole, I am the first female to fight so it was a big deal for everyone and it is my aim to try and push others to train and learn self-defence.”

Raianne’s trainer, Hassan El-Achrafi described Raianne as a dedicated and disciplined fighter and teacher. He said, “She always has a smile on her face when she walks into the gym. She trains hard and is disciplined her train and is always assisting others in the gym with their training.”

This article originally appeared on Daily Mail.