The experiences of women in Muslim parts of the world vary based on the country, and they encounter different obstacles in attempting to participate in sports.
In some countries, women face strong cultural barriers that prevent them from participating in sports, such as strict gender segregation norms and limited access to sporting facilities. In Saudi Arabia, for example, women were not allowed to participate in sports in public until 2015 when the government lifted the ban on women's participation in sports. Even after this change, women still face challenges such as limited funding for women's sports, lack of opportunities for professional development, and social stigma against female athletes.
In other Muslim-majority countries, women have more opportunities to participate in sports, but may still face discrimination and lack of support. For example, in Iran, women have been able to participate in sports since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, but still face cultural and religious restrictions on their participation. Women in Iran are required to adhere to a strict dress code when participating in sports, and face gender discrimination in access to resources and facilities.
Despite these challenges, there are many women in Muslim-majority countries who are actively involved in sports and have achieved success on both national and international levels. For example, Egyptian squash player Raneem El Welily became the world's top-ranked player in 2015, and Saudi Arabian judoka Wojdan Shaherkani became the first woman from her country to compete in the Olympics in 2012.
Overall, the experiences of women in Muslim parts of the world in sports are diverse and complex, and vary based on factors such as culture, religion, and government policies. While progress has been made in recent years to promote gender equality in sports, there is still a long way to go in addressing the unique challenges faced by women in these regions.