NBA Legend Backs Up Sikhs to Wear Turban During Basketball Games

FIBANEW DELHI, India—Sikh and Muslim basketball players around the have been trying to get the headgear ban overturned for some time now so that wearing the turban during games becomes permissible. NBA legend Bruce Bowen heard about the on going debate and backed up the demands of Sikh and Muslim players insisting that the game is not here to create any religious strife.

The ruling of removing the turban came about in July of this year when two Sikh players, Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh were told by officials to remove their turbans if they wanted to play in the game during the FIBA Asian Cup in China. “I don’t think basketball is here to create any religious strife. And I think you have to respect people’s religion more than anything else. I don’t see an issue, but again I am no authority. Guys wear headbands in basketball so it’s not like something has not been on someone’s head before. I had never heard of this. As far as I am concerned, it doesn’t stop the process,” said NBA legend Bruce Bowen.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) did not allow Sikh and Muslim players to wear their turbans for a two-year test period but the implementation of the rule was not absolute. Bowen said that basketball or any other sport should be used to bridge gaps not create them. “Again this is my opinion and if they allow such things then they only build communication between nations. Because sports is a great unifier. Two players don’t know the language but they communicate through the sport itself and that to me is great. Two governments can’t talk but when it comes to sports, they say just get it on,” said Bowmen. Bowmen stated that the Sikh players in India have a passion for the game of basketball and they are some really talented young men out there and its a shame that FIBA aren’t letting them play due to religious beliefs (the wearing of the turban which has not presented and danger to players what so ever).

Player playing without his turban.

Some Sikh players have accepted the ruling that they cannot play with their turbans on and have started to let their hair down to play. It has also made it harder for the Sikh practicing Sikh players who wont remove their turbans for the respect and honor of their religion and are fighting to overturn the ban on the turban.

 

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