BRITISH VEILD MUSLIM WOMAN IN THE WORLD’S LONGEST OCEAN RACE

London, 17 Dhulqa’dah 1436/1 September  2015 (MINA) –   Breaking down negative stereotypes, a British veiled Muslim woman is taking part in the world’s longest ocean race, proving that hijab has never been a barrier in the life of Muslim women, news agencies reported.

The (32) Muslim Noreen Rahman, who is a mathmatics teacher from Walthamstow, East London, aims from this step to defy the negative misconceptions surrounding her faith and the hijab by participating in the 10th Clipper Round The World Yacht Race, International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’ra Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Rahman is one of the 700 participants from 12 teams who will spend a year travelling the globe during the eight-stage race.

With a carnival-like opening ceremony and a parade under the iconic Tower Bridge on the sheltered waters of the River Thames, the race kicked off in London on Sunday.

Participants from 44 countries started their journey from St Katharine’s Dock to travel 40,000 nautical miles.

About 40 percent of the participants, who will travel 6,000 miles to Brazil’s Rio De Janeiro, have no previous sailing experience.

The world’s longest ocean race will see teachers, doctors, IT workers and students taking part, with ages ranging between 18 and 74.

Taking the tough challenge, Rahman will be sailing across the Atlantic in Leg 1 of the race, as part of the Great Britain crew.

Islam is the second largest religion with results from the United Kingdom Census 2011 giving the UK Muslim population in 2011 as 2,786,635, 4.4 percent of the total population.

It is worth to mention that woman is recognized by Islam as the full and equal partner of the man in the procreation of humankind. (T/Imt/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)