MINNEAPOLIS – The Council on American-Islamic Relations is speaking out after an Oakdale boxer was denied fighting in a match in Florida Sunday because she was wearing a hijab.

CAIR says 16-year-old Amaiya Zafar was about to enter the ring at the Sugar Bert Boxing National Championships in Kissimmee when an official disqualified her for wearing the traditional Muslim head covering.

Zafar’s opponent was named the winner, but shared her belt with Zafar in a sign of solidarity, according to CAIR.

USA Boxing and the International Boxing Association do not allow the hijab to be part of a competitor’s uniform. CAIR is calling on both organizations to change this policy.

In prior months, Zafar had been outspoken about getting the boxing agency to accept her hijab in the boxing ring. 

The Minnesota teen first made headlines late last year when her family and CAIR successfully implored USA Boxing, the national regulatory body for Olympic-style amateur boxing, to request a ruling from the Switzerland-based International Boxing Association (AIBA) about wearing hijabs in the ring. Current USA Boxing rules don’t permit boxers to wear the clothing that Zafar wears (a hijab and long-sleeved Under Armor shirt) in accordance with her faith; the governing body says the clothing is a safety hazard.