Six girls-only high schools in Jeddah are being investigated by the Saudi education ministry for holding a sports competition without the ministry's permission.

Two hundred girls took part in the event on December 8, which included basketball, badminton, athletics and swimming. But when pictures appeared in the newspapers conservative elements began complaining and harassing the schools.

Farida Farsi, chairman of al-Hamra Schools, told Arab News she received "a huge number of letters and telephone calls from conservative Saudi men and sheikhs who said that I should’ve known better and advised me not to hold such competitions in the future because it’s not lady-like".

Sameera al-Harakan, administrator at al-Ferdous Schools, also had complaints: "I received more than 60 messages from anonymous people demanding I stop girls from taking part in sports, and that this is a boys-only activity and not for girls."

Arab News continues:

Ahmed al-Zahrani, director of the Girls Education Department in Jeddah, said the schools that participated in the competition have broken Ministry of Education rules and will be investigated ...

"We don’t have any regulations that say that it’s okay for girl schools to hold sports classes or training. This tournament was held by these schools, something that has now led us to know about their illegal activities," he said.

Female sporting activity in Saudi Arabia is generally discouraged by traditionalists and local events involving women are sometimes banned, though attitudes have begun to change. A few years ago the Saudi Shura Council issued regulations for women's sports clubs but female participation in international sporting events is still strongly opposed by religious elements.

Last July, a campaign was launched to ban Saudi Arabia from the 2012 Olympics unless women are allowed to take part.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 22 Dec 2010.