#NEWS
--MileSplit
Noor's Pursuit: A Young Muslim Woman's Fight For Equality
If there is a face for change in high school athletics, it's Noor Abukaram, a 19-year-old Muslim woman and a sophomore at Ohio State University.
https://www.milesplit.com/articles/332317/noors-pursuit-a-young-muslim-womans-fight-for-equality
--MileSplit
An Unlikely Bond Helped Noor Abukaram Cement Change
Over the next two years, the pair worked together to push forward new legislation in the Ohio State Congress to protect student religious expression in athletics, which was ultimately signed into law by Governor Mike Dewine in February 2022.
--Forbes
As They Prep For The NYC Marathon, Female Runners Share What Inspires Them
Abukaram will run alongside an ICU nurse who teaches yoga, a Brooklyn cross-country coach who overcame an eating disorder and tens of thousands of runners in the TCS New York City Marathon.
--Insider
A high-school athlete who was disqualified for wearing a hijab is now running the New York City Marathon
On Sunday, Abukaram will be running the New York City Marathon — her longest race yet — as a member of Team Inspire in bright colors and a hijab. Now, she wants to be seen.
https://www.insider.com/nyc-marathon-student-athlete-disqualified-wearing-hijab-running-2022-11
--ESPN
Disqualified for running in a hijab, Noor Alexandria Abukaram turned pain into action
In her own words, Abukaram describes how she's empowered herself as a hijabi runner and worked toward making sports more inclusive.
--Strava
Changing the Game: How a Discriminatory Hijab Ban Fueled a New Senate Bill
Noor wants the next generation to know that they can enact change. “Lawmakers are there to hear your concerns as constituents, so be storytellers and write that letter or have that meeting because you never know who's listening.”
https://www.strava.com/clubs/926751/posts/20883668
--The CUSP Show
274: Fighting Discrimination and Injustices in Sports w/ Noor Abukaram
Joe and Tom are joined by Noor Alexandria Abukaram, Founder of Let Noor Run. In this episode, Noor discusses how her disqualification from a 5K cross-country race in Ohio because of her ‘hijab’ drove her to start the Let Noor Run initiative.
--The Columbus Dispatch
Gov. DeWine signs Ohio law allowing students to wear hijab while competing in HS sports
She knew a rule change would not be enough, and if she did not share her story, other girls would fall victim to the same discrimination she had experienced.
--CAIR-Ohio
CAIR-Ohio welcomes new Ohio law protecting the right to wear hijab in school sports
Ohio student-athlete Noor Abukaram, of Sylvania, championed the bill after her own experience of being disqualified from her high school track meet because of her hijab.
--Haute Hijab
Cross Country Runner Noor Alexandria Abukaram Can't Be Banned – She Made Sure of It
Her work to end the discrimination of religious expression in extracurricular activities in Ohio schools and her favorite thing about Haute Hijab Sport.
--Sentinel Tribune
Gavarone bill to protect religious expression unanimously passes out of committee
The Senate’s Education Committee this week unanimously approved legislation, sponsored by State Senator Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, which would protect freedom of religious expression for athletes.
-- Bill 288
Gavarone Introduces Legislation to Protect Freedom of Religious Expression
State Senator Theresa Gavarone introduced Senate Bill 288, which would protect freedom of religious expression for athletes.
-- AJ+
https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/539434833548659/
-- Vice
I Was Disqualified From My High School Cross Country Meet Because I Wear Hijab
I've had anxieties about being a visibly Muslim athlete. But I never imagined they would manifest the way they did this month.
-- Sports Illustrated
https://www.si.com/more-sports/2019/10/27/muslim-teen-runner-disqualified-for-hijab
-- Ilhan Omar
Hijab-wearing women and girls don’t need permission to exist. Noor ran her personal best this season, only to be told it didn’t count because she made the choice to wear a hijab. I’m standing with her. Every rule that is ignorant of religious freedom must be overturned.
https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1188173968768983040?s=20
-- Noor (Me)
I ran my best race today beating my record from last week’s meet when I got disqualified! ❤️ Thank you to everyone who came out and cheered me on today!
-- Yahoo Sports
-- CURE
Our girl Noor Alexandria Abukaram ran her best race today beating her record from last week’s meet when she got disqualified. Way to go Noor! #WeStandWithNoor #LetNoorRun
https://twitter.com/cureyourworld/status/1188153519423049728?s=20
-- Haute Hijab
Leading with Compassion - Imagine a World Where Hijabis Aren't Barred from Sports?🏅🏆
"I know sports is competitive by nature. However can't compassion be part of this all? Noor is 16, the same age as my own daughter. What must've it felt like to finish a race, having run your personal best, only to be told you're disqualified because your hijab didn't meet standards? It makes me angry and sad. Because it's been a grind my entire life that continues into how I parent my kids now.
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Imagine a world where, far from having to fight to compete, Muslim (and all) women are greeted with the same level of support shown in this video. Ask yourself – who do we we want to be? And, not just in regards to how we view or support Muslim women who wear the hijab (or don't wear the hijab). And, why is this STILL a thing? Can we approach each other with sensitivity and compassion and reasonableness?
-- Uninterrupted
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4DIdMkg4jX/
“Sports should be a place where everyone has the right to play.” -
@ibtihajmuhammad#LetNoorRun 🧕💪
-- Muslim Girl
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Flj0DhvEV/
A Ohio High-school Athletic Association disqualified cross country athlete Noor Abukaram from a district meet simply because she was wearing a hijab. “It was like your worst nightmare to have to compete and then find out that you got disqualified and it’s because of something that you love,” said the 16-year old. We will not let this incident fade away like many issues targeted towards Muslims. We will raise our voice and stand with Noor and so many others that don’t let society dictate who they are✨💪🏽💕#letnoorrun illustration by: @shaymaalshiri
-- Time Magazine
Thank you Time Magazine for your support!
https://time.com/5711021/ohio-teen-cross-country-hijab-disqualification/
-- Bleacher Report
A huge fan! We all are, thank you.
-- The Washington Post
Wow, very humbling. Thank you.
-- The New York Times
Thank you NYT, much love.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/us/Ohio-hijab-runner.html
-- New York Post
Thank you!
https://nypost.com/2019/10/24/ohio-student-says-she-was-disqualified-for-running-5k-in-hijab/
-- CNN
Thank you CNN!
https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2019/10/24/runner-noor-abukaram-student-hijab-disqualified-vpx.wtol
-- Elizabeth Warren
I’ve got your back, Noor. Every kid should be able to feel safe and welcome at school—and Muslim students should never be denied participation in school activities. My public school plan fights discriminatory dress codes that exclude students like Noor.
https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1187489783024627715?s=20
-- Runners World
Runners World, always been a fan, thank you!
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a29579636/noor-abukaram-disqualified-runner-wearing-hijab/
-- USA Today
Thank you USA Today!
-- MileSplit
My favorite article. Thank you.
https://www.milesplit.com/articles/269826/muslim-runner-in-ohio-reflects-on-the-impact-of-race-dq
-- BBC
Thank you BBC! If you'd like to listen to my part, fast forward to 40 minutes!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w172wrvsgz2q1bc
-- Noor (Me)
As I sit here overwhelmed with emotions, I’m a little unsure what to write to properly depict the gratitude I am feeling. Before all of this, I felt crushed, betrayed by a sport that I have grown to love so dearly. I was scared with apprehension that my coach and teammates would be negatively affected by all the media. I was conflicted. I didn’t want to offend anyone but I knew I had to do something so that no other student athlete competing in hijab would ever endure the humiliation and anguish that I went through last weekend. I am so thankful to each and every person who has shown me love and support. You guys don’t realize what that did for me, so thank you!
-- ESPN
https://www.espn.com/espn/wire…
-- Good Morning America
I can’t believe this! Thank you Good Morning America
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/…/ohio-cross-country-run…
-- Teen Vogue
Thank you Teen Vogue
https://www.teenvogue.com/…/teen-runner-reportedly-disquali…
-- Ibtihaj Muhammad
Thank you Ibtihaj Muhammad for covering my story! This means so much to me to have a role model of mine share my story! 
Shame on you Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for disqualifying cross country athlete Noor Abukaram from a district meet because she was wearing hijab. Most people don’t realize the hurdles we have to jump over as hijabi athletes just for the same opportunities to compete like everyone else. My sister Faizah and I were often targeted by NJSIAA officials and coaches, who would try to use small loop holes in the rule book to ban us from competing in hijab. These bigots have to be stopped. Sports should be a place where everyone has the right to play. Noor, your journey is bigger than track, just as my journey was bigger than fencing. We’re riding with you till the end! #LetNoorRun 🧕🏽✊🏽
-- Toledo Blade
Hometown heroes, thank you for your support!