Maine high school issues 'sports hijabs' to Muslim athletes

A Portland, Maine, high school announced that sports hijabs would be available to young Muslim girls playing sports for the school, Deering High School, CBS News reported on Thursday.

Officials at Deering High School elected to give female Muslim athletes the option to wear a sports hijab in order to make them more comfortable, say students attending the school.

"We're more confident on the field," junior lacrosse player Fadumo Adan said. "This one doesn't fall off. No matter what I do, it won't fall off."

Two female tennis co-captains raised over $800 for their Muslim teammates when the school's athletic director told them that such a product existed.

Israa Enan, a senior who was born in Iraq, said she stayed off the school's tennis team because her parents had concerns about the uniform and lack of a hijab.

"I wished I was one of these girls who wear the hijabs and play with it, but it's OK," Enan said. "I'm too late now."

She did, however, note that she's "happy for the other girls who have the opportunity now to wear the hijab and be more comfortable doing the things they like to do."

Sophomore tennis player Tabarek Kadhim — a young woman who immigrated to the United States from Jordan — expressed her appreciation of the gesture. "There are some people who actually care, respect and love others, and they are actually accepting of others, which makes me really happy," she said.