They question my character because I wear a swimsuit: Wardah Fatima
The recently concluded Islamabad Women Swimming Association (IWSA) summer swimming gala was contested with enthusiasm, appreciated by not only the participants but also followers of women swimming in Pakistan.
Over 25 girls from the city competed in nine events but, more than the medals, they were competing for pride, to make a stand for themselves after being largely neglected. Wardah Fatima, the fifteen-year-old swimmer who bagged three bronze medals in the 12th National Women’s Junior Swimming Championship in Karachi earlier this year, took home gold medals in all over-12 events but spoke of the lack of opportunity and help available.
“When my sister and I were younger, our mother would take us to the edge of a pool and make us hold on to the skirting and kick until we got tired,” Wardah told The Express Tribune. “We are completely self-trained with no help from anywhere.”
Wardah realised that she was capable of a good show after competing in the first of the three national events that she has taken part in, explaining that despite being aware of the limited scope for women in the sport, hard work and a strong resolve allowed her to pursue something she loves doing.
“There are odds against women everywhere,” she said, pointing to the lack of facilities and funding. The swimming pool at the Sports Complex is open between from 6am to 10pm. However, female swimmers can only access it between 4 and 6pm.
“I have tuition at 4pm and due to that, I only have an hour each day to swim and rush to my academy. Also, we don’t have proper lockers or changing facilities which is a huge drawback for us.
“People around me tell me I have no future. They even question my character because I wear a swimsuit. But I’ve proved myself by not giving up.”
While Rana Seerat, member of the Federal Board of Revenue, presented certificates to the winners, and the praise was not only restricted to the participants but also the mothers who encouraged the effort, ensuring the girls took part in a sport that sees limited female participation in the country.
Meanwhile, the IWSA President Parveen Qadir Agha confirmed that a survey of swimming facilities in Islamabad had started and the association had plans on improving what was on offer currently – providing they have available funds.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2012.
Correction: Earlier, the word "association" was misspelled as "associated" in the first paragraph. The error has been rectified.
COMMENTS (44)
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someone here said how india was rated low in women liberation...
but the reason for that is not lack of personal freedom as prevalent in islamic countries but cases like female foeticide,,dowry,etc
the cause is that in india marriage is costly with dowry and all...so they consider woman a liability hence so much foeticide which leds to gender imbalaance leading to rapes in some areas otherwise freedom wise its okay
Warda dont give up just coz of fear of religion.Just wear swim suit to dive in & make us proud.In case if your swim suits wearing puts u in troubles & u start to receiving life threats , then apply for asylum & move & then pursue ur career again. We will support u here as well as there.Main point is if u r blessed with passion & talent then dont waste it coz of some loosers.
@Ordinary Villager: You may be a Villager but no ordinary! Thanks, I agree with you full well. Thanks and regards, Mirza
@mystreeman: Even the Indian tennis star Sania Mirza wears small skirts and now Indian says anything. It is the fanatic mullahs who put fatwas on these kind of dressing.
Swimming in Hijab! Special competition for Muslim women!
Let's all obey the Koran, ok? No swim suit for women (though ok for men given different nature of men and women). I suggest that women can swim in a modified burkha or hijab. It makes it harder but if everyone is wearing it then the competition is again even and fair. And it could even be a separate event in the olympics!! Time for all Muslims to stand up for what they believe in.
first read my whole comment and don't wright bs .i am never told indian women have no problem but totally different than mostly muslim (arab and pakistan)countries have (burqa,tejab throwing).and i know why india will not complete with china because china is master of your country like usa is in past and if u talking about slum what about china or what about karachi (largest slum of asia)and we never told like 1 muslim=10 inferior hindus .this is told by your gernal who think they complete mighty indian army and fool your illiterate pakistani(49% litteracy rate)and every indian belive 1 day india became economic super power .we don't belive any millitry super power and our history prove this.
@amit: I am afraid you are a classic example of a deluded Indian. I suppose you also believe that India can compete with China and that India will be a superpower and that there are no slums in India and that all poverty in India will be eradicated. Continue to delude yourself but the truth will always be the truth.
http://www.ahiida.com/ we can have much cheaper ones made here in Pakistan
Everything can be achieved in a Modest Manner if Pakistani women try. But if there idea is just to promote vulgarity & immodesty and try to be like west - hollywood.bollywood so that they can satisfy their EGO's then NO.
nice joke ,no indian belive this propaganda bs survey where soudi arabia and muslim countries are nowhere where women have no freedom and they wear burqa. oh and please don't compare your country with indian women. indian women literacy rate is higher than whole pakistan literacy rate .if i am not wrong pakistan women litteracy rate is only 35-40%.we have some social problem like Female foeticide ,high rape case and girl traficking. but we are totally different case then muslim countries.and i also post link where india is nowhere in top 50 in women freedom and pakistan and many muslim country in top 10.
Problem solved. Introducing the Islamic Bikini - Burkini.
http://www.ahiida.com/
@Abu does the Burkini pass the jurisprudence test?
Good job keep it up ...
We support you! Be brave.
The character of a girl showing off in a swim suit in front of thousands of perverts should be questioned - or not?
Islam looks at these issues as how they will affect Muslims as a society and the Covering of your zenaat is not a choice it is decree by Allah (SWT) for protection of women from sexual harassment and exploitation and the relaxation of these laws now have placed the most respectable creation of ALLAH (SWT) THE WOMEN in pornographic materials there can not be any thing more disgraceful than that but the man made LAWS can not protect her from this exploitation
@ABU:
Thank you for writing this I would kike to further say that we Muslims are looking at Islam with the glasses of capitalism and western democracy and we forget the real message of Islam that ALLAH (SWT) has put us on earth for a test and the real success of this life would be if we enter in paradise in the world here after and that can only happen if we will follow the teaching and life of our BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAWS).
@Hairaan: I am waiting for the next iteration of the book instead of one suited for illiterate and barbaric desert dwellers.
@Critical: @Critical: u missed the point dear. Broad your vision brother. There is something called freewill. And every religion do not interfere with it. People can do whatever they want. People are warned by Allah. They will know the truth at the Day of Judgment. And then there will not be a freewill. I do not expect you to agree with me. Respect the freewill.
@Proud and Loud: WOW!!! You really are loud bother. Your words do not speak wise. I am sorry for you that you have not understood a simple thing. That book you are calling ancient, it is ancient for those who do not find in easy to follow it.
@Proud and Loud: Would like to humbly inform you that the book you are referring to is worth reading. Please open it and read once before being called by your creator one day. The day which is bound to come. And by the way, the guidance given in this book are for all times, all places, all mankind, all cultures and all civilizations.
@ABU: Jazakallah brother. You projected the correct point of view very well. Don't worry about the comments of the liberals. The God will decide who is right and who is wrong on the day of judgement Inshallah.
President Obama ran on HOPE & CHANGE and in 2008 America dealing with racial problems and civil anguish finally elected a black President. It took a long time for civil rights in America to be established is racism now over in America and the answer is a NO! But changes are a part of a healthy society and the evolving role of women in Pakistan is a sign that even though some religious leaders would like less women rights achieved women in Pakistan are on the move we now have a women foreign minister and a first time women winning the highest award in Hollywood and as women infuse the work place the sports arena and other places dominated by men the mode of thinking will change the move is on and women will roar to success!
@Indian: Not sure if you are aware but India was ranked in the top 5 worst countries in the world for women according to a survey by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. It was ranked with Pakistan so any delusional ideas you have that India is any better are far off the mark.
We like progress. We accept it as well. If it is the time of Adhan for the five prayers, we no longer just look at the sun and its position, we do avail a scientific innovation known as "watch." If we have to travel we no longer restrict ourselves to travel by camel or a horse. We do avail a scientific innovation known as "automobile." This is despite the fact that it was the standard way of doing it. Similarly, there are hundreds and hundreds of more such examples that can be quoted. But when it comes to some other issues, be it the timing of the planetary movement to figure out the start of a new month or clothing, excuse us. We are traditional. We want to see the moon with our own eyes only to believe it. Excuse us, we are hypocrites.
@ABU: Well,why cant u send your athlete to compete in Olympics wearing burkha????
On a lighter side,It would make my day seeing someone do swimming,football,diving,gymnastics,110 m hurdles wearing a burkha....
@Hamza Khanb
You have no right to tell other people what to do or what not! Damn it! focus on real problems in Pakistan, like poverty, discrimination, minorities right instead of poking your nose everywhere!
@Proud and Loud:
only someone of your intellect would think like that. i would suggest you keep your morality to yourself and not stop someone from expressing their belief in the word of God as a guide for all of mankind, as stated in the Quran several times. may you be guided.
@Citizen .: hope you don't mean IK by CHANGE here .
@naeem hussain: If there is no issue of women sports in India there are so many other issues of women in India which do not exist in Pakistan. Be kind enough to quote 'ONE' example.......
If there is no issue of women sports in India there are so many other issues of women in India which do not exist in Pakistan.@Malik:
Don't Worry Be Happy
I am an Indian, I feel the biggest religion right now is "Peace and Equality". Not just between nations, but also between the people from different culture and sexes. I wish the newer generation in Pakistan encourages Women Vibration and Equality, similar to India. @Malik saahab, you r right. The fire has been triggered from bigger cities and now is reaching to small cities and villages of India. We have so many examples in India where a female achievers belonged to a small town or village with limited facilities and absolutely no encouragement. I wish luck to women in Pakistan and specially Wardha Fatima to keep the spirits up. I am sure time will change for you and for your fellow sports women in your country. I am waiting for the day when sporting spirits of both nations r not only restricted to male dominated games like Cricket/Hockey.
keep it up & keep going forward . There is no SIN in wearing at Swim suit so go ahead & compete with the best & win People are never happy & they will never be happy so you go on & be happy urself & make your Parents proud & us too . our prayers are with you :)
@Malik: Is it the case in every city of India that women are allowed the liberty to pusue their dreams or such liberty is restricted only to major cities?
@ABU: Oh stop it! just stop it! stop using any book written in times which were not relevant to us anymore to pass judgement on people of today is stupid! It might have been fine for the people of that time, of that place of that mentality.. it has NO RELEVANCE whatsoever in today's time! sooner you understand this the better for all humanity. all who refer to any ancient book to pass judgements on morality, right or wrong or who are superior or inferior are delusional and belongs in an institution. end of.
@ABU: But why is it your business if she chooses to wear a swimsuit and compete as an athlete? Can you not lower your gaze? Nobody is forcing you to watch her swim. Spend less time judging others and more time looking at yourself. Let her worry about whether she is breaking Islam or not, that is her business and not yours. I say kudos to her and she should be an inspiration to millions of Pakistani girls.
@Ordinary Villager: Pls don't pass comment about South Asian Countries in general. There are no restriction of those kind in India. These are prevalent in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldivies.
Keep the good work going lady.
Swimming is an excellent hobby/sports. I dont know how many pool offer female-only timings. If they do; even the females who observe "parda" can go to pools.
The rule is very simple.
Islam does not restrict women from sports. Islam does not want women to show their Zenaat. If any sport cannot be done with this restriction, it is not allowed inevitably (especially in front of those people women cannot expose their Zeenat). This rule applies for men also. A man cannot wear a swim suit (which is covering pubic area only) even in front of other men.
Wardah stay strong . Change is coming and it will take some time but have faith .many girls are looking up to you and many will follow :))
@ Ordinary Villager, u are 100% right, thats why our condition is such bad, we the whole nation are of hipocrites.
Women should be encouraged to participate in sports, work and other activities that will keep them active and make Pakistan society a better place to live. If Men and women are truly equal then why this discrimination? We have to change our mentality. Then only Pakistan will achieve true independence and prosper.
In Pakistan people love to listen to Female singers but if their own daughter or sister will do that then they got a problem. Similarly they love to watch movies and Heroins but if their family member will do that then they got a problem. Likewise in Sports it is not much difference and in any other activity of life. I have worked in office environments and believe me during Coffee break and Lunch time the favorite time of my colleagues was to discuss the clothing of female colleagues and then they used to pass judgement about Character of the women. South Asian Countries are in general are a worst place for any women to Groom as for many apart from their own mothers and sisters every other women is Immoral and it is always like that here. Working Women are Considered Easy Meat here. Wardah's story is not any different from the rest of the ladies in Pakistan.