CAIR-Chicago Welcomes New Illinois Law Allowing Athletes to Modify Uniforms for Cultural, Religious Reasons

(CHICAGO, IL, 9/27/2021) – The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, today welcomed a law that will allow student athletes to alter their uniforms for religious or cultural purposes.

Illinois Public Act 102-0051 states that “a school board must allow a student athlete to modify his or her athletic or team uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion or his or her cultural values or modesty preferences.”

"This accommodation is a long time coming. Athletes should not be forced to choose between their identity, including faith practice, and their passion for a sport," Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said. "Muslim athletes and others who may choose to observe modest dress codes in sport have excelled at every level of competition from local leagues all the way to the Olympics. Sport is a human right and so is personal conscience and it is high time the two are reconciled in our state's rules as they are in the daily realities of so many in this state and around the world. This is a win for common sense and inclusivity."

CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Saadia Pervaiz, 312-212-1520, spervaiz@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Hannah Faris, 312-212-1520, hfaris@cair.com;