# Any pictures of the fully covered female sprinter from Afghanistan competing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828 "2004-08-21T05:23:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/21 "2004-08-24T05:19:32Z")
[QUOTE=Eats\_Crayons] That’s [Nassim Hassanpour](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3570040.stm).QUOTE] That’s an excellent picture. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/22 "2004-08-24T05:27:50Z")
> [@nonpolar](#): > > Since we gravitated to topic of stoning to death in Iran ,I have to let you know that worst offender of womens rights BY FAR in m.east is our friendly nation of Saudi Arabia. > Somehow recently mass media starts vilifiyng and demonizing Iran, and sheeple as usually follows. > Simillar thing happened before Iraqi war ,remember. How ironic. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/23 "2004-08-24T06:44:14Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > [Cite](http://www.iran-e-azad.org/english/womenpr.html) > [Cite again](http://www.iran-e-azad.org/stoning/) > > [Cite the third](http://www.spectrezine.org/resist/Iran.doc.htm) > Atrocious. > > ☹ Except the runner is from Afganistan. The sharp shooter is from Iran. At least she should be safe…you’d think if Iranian men were smart, they’d keep women away from guns 😃 . ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/24 "2004-08-24T06:58:38Z")
And you missed this one > **[Girl, 16, Hanged in Public in Iran - Iran Focus](https://www.iranfocus.com/en/news/special-wire/80-girl-16-hanged-in-public-in-iran/)** > > Iran Focus On Sunday, August 15, a 16-year-old girl in the town  of Neka, northern Iran, was executed. Atefeh Sahaleh was hanged in public on Simetry Street off Rah Ahan Street at the city center. On Sunday, August 15, a 16-year-old girl in the... ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/25 "2004-08-24T13:12:28Z")
I’d love to see what the Speedo company comes up with for a muslim women swimmer? How do you make a burqua that you can swim in? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/26 "2004-08-24T14:48:28Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I’d love to see what the Speedo company comes up with for a muslim women swimmer? How do you make a burqua that you can swim in? :smack: During one of the swimming events, the commentators were talking about a young female swimmer from Pakistan named [Rubab Raza](http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/pak/Rubab+Raza/368305). IIRC, they said she was able to compete because of the development of full-body swimsuits (like what Ian Thorpe wears). [A more detailed link](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,10511-1212189,00.html). If you Google her name, there are pictures of her in more traditional swimming attire, but she wore the bodysuit for the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/27 "2004-08-24T16:38:41Z")
The confusion between one country and another in this thread is driving me nuts. Here’s a little guide: Iran. Country ruled by conservative Shiite muslim clerics. Women can do most everything men can do, but they must be segregated and they must be completely covered when men can see them. Their only female Olympic athlete this year is competing in shooting. Iraq. Formerly ruled by a secular socialist dictator from a moderate Sunni muslim background. Women were not required to wear the long black covering, but some of them did anyway, especially in the countryside. They could play sports, run for office, be doctors and treat men and women, serve in the military, vote, own land, divorce their husbands, drive cars, etc. Under new management, women are running scared and wearing the abaya and staying home for their own safety. This year Iraq has just one woman competing in the Olympics, and her and her family’s beliefs compel her to run (she’s a sprinter) in clothes which cover her. Afghanistan. Formerly ruled by the Taliban, a completely insane bunch of nutso crazies comparable to David Koresh’s clan of nutcakes who went loonie in Waco. Under the Taliban, women could do nothing, ever. Funnily, when our arch enemies the soviets were in ‘control’ in Afghanistan, women there were doctors, lawyers, engineers, politicians, etc. Then the Taliban sent them home to knit. They have two women Olympians this year. Burqa - Afghanistan. Abaya - Iraq. Chador - Iran. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/28 "2004-08-24T17:22:27Z")
> [@bluethree](#): > > The confusion between one country and another in this thread is driving me nuts… Agreed. You’d think that of all places, the SDMB would be someplace where people could be bothered to recognise that the Middle East isn’t the one country and Islam comes in many forms. And while we all have a smug laugh at how the funny foreign woman athletes, let’s not forget that it wasn’t much different in the western world [not so long ago](http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/womenhistory.htm). ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/29 "2004-08-24T18:19:12Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > [Here’s a picture.](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/summer/track/2003-08-23-afghan-woman_x.htm) Its not like she is in a burka, she’s just wearing sweat pants. The accompanying article says she finished in a little over 18 seconds. Someone owes the Jamaican bobsled team an apology. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/30 "2004-08-24T19:18:09Z")
> [@nonpolar](#): > > I would not mind if other women runners put more clothes on ,some of them look so muscular/mannly,that watching games with girlfriend in you arms and hoping for a nice romantic evening is not a good idea. I’m sure their trainers will keep your suggestion in mind. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/31 "2004-08-24T19:19:46Z")
> [@nonpolar](#): > > I would not mind if other women runners put more clothes on ,some of them look so muscular/mannly,that watching games with girlfriend in you arms and hoping for a nice romantic evening is not a good idea. Yeah, because they’ve trained their whole lives and are competing at the Olympics with the sole intention of satisfying your sexual desires. :rolleyes: God forbid we actually focus on women athletes _as_ athletes once in a while, instead of worriyng about whether they turn us on. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/32 "2004-08-24T19:33:35Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] > [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > That’s [Nassim Hassanpour](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3570040.stm).QUOTE] > That’s an excellent picture. She’d make an excellent Bond villain. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/33 "2004-08-24T19:47:56Z")
Wouldn’t all of this covering-up hinder their performance? Mostly naked is more aerodynamic, I would think. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/34 "2004-08-24T21:48:32Z")
I for one was not in any manner laughing, smugly or otherwise. My apologies however, for contributing to the muddying of country information. The cites provided are accurate, but you are right, the woman with the gun is Iranian and covered, the runner is Afghanese. Sorry for the misguidance. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![DaToad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DaToad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaToad)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/35 "2004-08-24T22:23:27Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > [Cite](http://www.iran-e-azad.org/english/womenpr.html) > > [Cite again](http://www.iran-e-azad.org/stoning/) > > [Cite the third](http://www.spectrezine.org/resist/Iran.doc.htm) > > Atrocious. > > ☹ Atrocious indeed and I don’t have anything to add. I lived and worked in Iran for three years and reading the linked articles and watching the video made me very, very sad. ---
**Author:** ![nonpolar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@nonpolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonpolar)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/36 "2004-08-24T23:20:46Z")
I wonder why USA did not invade IRAN or SAUDI .A. in the first place if those countries are so barbaric? In IRAQ on the other hand women were treated very. well. But soon that will be history in IRAQ. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828/37 "2004-08-27T21:53:16Z")
There was a really good article on this topic in the Chicago Tribune the other day. I don’t want to post a link, but for those who want to search for it, it was called “For Muslim Women, Victory is Competing,” and written by Philip Hersh. Enjoy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-pictures-of-the-fully-covered-female-sprinter-from-afghanistan-competing/260828.md?page=1)