The reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors launched a new line of team-branded hijabs as a significant step of getting closer with fans of all cultures, especially the ones who follow or practice Islam. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the team’s parent company, unveiled the Nike Pro hijabs with the team logo on its official Twitter account.
Inspired by those brave enough to change the game.
The Toronto Raptors Nike Pro Hijab is available now.#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/D1fY1mWGhy
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) September 13, 2019
The Toronto Raptors are the first NBA team to offer such hijabs for Muslim women, and the whole idea came from a local Muslim women’s organization known as the Hijabi Ballers. These women play basketball at a community court associated with the Raptors, and are quite regular there.
According to the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment senior marketing director Jerry Ferguson, the Toronto Raptors organization wants to send a message of inclusion to its diverse fan base. Toronto is known as a multi-cultural city, and their fanbase became even more prominent after the team won the NBA championship last season.
“One of the things that we are very interested in is moving from saying we are just about inclusivity and accessibility, and finding ways to bring products and ideas to market that actually prove that,” Ferguson said by phone.
FIBA and FIFA banned head coverings, but both organizations lifted bans in recent years. The Hijabi Ballers’ action to spur the Raptors to introduce athletic hijabs were highly praised by the National Council of Canadian Muslims. The council’s executive director, Mustafa Farooq, admitted that the problem of hijabs in sports has proved to be divisive as many opponents called them a symbol of oppression.
“It’s hard for me to understand that,” Farooq said. “One of the beautiful things about sports is that everyone can play. Highlighting that … everyone should get a shot is such a beautiful thing to do, so obviously we thank the Raptors for taking this step.”
