As part of its ongoing CHILL Campaign, the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand (IWCNZ) discuss Gymnast Samadiana Fariz, an accomplished gymnast and coach whose achievements challenge perceptions of Muslim women in sport.
The CHILL Campaign, an acronym for Challenge Islamophobic Language and Loathing, is a 10-week initiative designed to counter gendered Islamophobia by showcasing the achievements and lived experiences of eight Muslim women in New Zealand.
Through a series of short videos and still photography, selected women share their stories, aiming to educate and raise awareness about the diverse roles and contributions of Muslim women in New Zealand communities.
Gymast Samadiana Fariz is the first of the eight Muslim women to be featured on the campaign.
Despite common misconceptions that Muslim women are not active in sports, Fariz has excelled in gymnastics as an athlete and now as a young coach, proving that sisters can and do participate in a wide range of sporting activities!
According to IWCNZ Coordinator Aliya Danzeisen, Fariz’s story flips the stereotype of Muslim women being restricted or uninterested in sports. By highlighting her achievements, Danzeisen says that the creators of the CHILL Campaign hope to inspire others to follow their passions too.
“Samadiana’s success in gymnastics is a clear example of how Muslim women can thrive in any field they choose. Through the CHILL Campaign, we want to share stories like Samadiana’s to motivate our community and to educate the wider public about the contributions and potential of Muslim women in New Zealand,” says Danzeisen.
Promoting Inclusivity in Sports
According to Danzeisen, there may be barriers to participation for some communities, however, what is beautiful about Aotearoa New Zealand is that it is seeking solutions to ensure that all those who wish to be involved and physically active can be.
In 2020, Sport New Zealand researched the issue and published the report “Building Cultural Inclusion in Active Recreation” which laid out the challenges and offered recommendations. IWCNZ encourages New Zealanders to read it and seek solutions.
“IWCNZ would like to give a shoutout and appreciation to all the coaches, outdoor instructors, teachers and providers who are welcoming to diverse participants. At IWCNZ, there have been many who worked with us to find those workable answers for over 16 years now, getting IWCNZ membership scaling cliffs, paddling rivers, trekking through forests, and skiing down mountains. when someone says, ‘Muslim women can’t’ please CHILL! And let them know, we’ve got this!” says Danzeisen.
According to Danzeisen, gendered Islamophobia refers to hostility, marginalisation and discrimination that specifically targets Muslim women.
“This dual bias increases vulnerabilities such as a higher likelihood of experience hate crimes and social exclusion. Muslim women face a disproportionate amount of hate and verbal abuse in New Zealand due to this intersection as well as other factors based on ethnicity and national origins,” says Danzeisen.
Notes from the Editor: You can check out the CHILL Campaign here.
