Basketball player Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir is a sports star, but she’s also a Muslim icon who helped to transform the way the sport views and accommodates players of faith.
She has broken records with her performances on the court, but her stratospheric career was temporarily halted when the International Basketball Federation introduced new rules which meant she couldn’t wear her hair covering while playing.
Ultimately Bilqis chose her faith over her sport, and reluctantly withdrew from the sport while continuing to play a part in introducing young people to the game.
From her new home in Canada she set up a sports academy for girls called Dribbling Down Barriers, and has also done a great deal of coaching in faith schools to help produce new players who can continue her groundbreaking legacy. Her battle to be allowed to play and wear her hijab at the same time eventually paid off after four years, and in 2017 the rule was reversed.
Not only did this open up her own career once again, but it also meant younger generations of Muslim women wouldn’t have to choose between their faith and a sport they love.
But her latest battle is one of citizenship, as she has been denied permanent residency in Canada despite all this good work, and will have to move back to America – at least for the moment.
We’re fully supportive of Bilqis’ work both on and off the court, and while we can’t understand why Canada would turn down the opportunity to call her one of their own, we are sure there are bigger things in store for this incredible sportswoman.