(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani is due to compete in the +78kg Judo category on Friday 3 August. This is the first time a female Saudi athlete is to participate in an Olympics event.

Her father, Ali Shaherkani has said that his daughter "will not compete in the Judo Games on August 3 if the committee insists that she removes her hijab".

The excuse for the banning of the hijab during Judo combat included a safety reason that Judo fighters can try to strangle each other using judogi or kit. A hijab was a hazard on this matter to be used by mistake during a move.

Saudi Arabia, alongside Qatar, has never sent female athletes to the Olympic Games. Human rights groups urged the International Olympic Committee to ban the countries from the Games unless they agreed to allow women to compete.

Conservative clerics of the Saudi regime have said it is immodest and against women’s nature to take part in Olympic sports. This has been an ongoing argument in the country.

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