Controversy Surrounds France’s Hijab Ban as Olympics Near

France’s hijab ban in sports has sparked backlash from human rights groups days away from the Olympics.

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According to Amnesty, the ban prohibits Muslim women from wearing a sports hijab or any other form of religious headgear when they are competing in sports in France, including basketball, football, and volleyball. Initially announced in September 2023, the ban only applies to athletes competing in France, not those from other countries.

The decision was criticized by the United Nations, which said that “no one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear.” The UN emphasized that restrictions on expressions of religion or beliefs, including attire choices, are only acceptable in specific circumstances. As the Olympics are days away, French officials and the International Olympic Committee faced backlash on social media for continuing to implement the ban.

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Social media users have also commented on the ban, highlighting the hypocrisy concerning religious attire. They mentioned that previous Olympic games have allowed athletes to wear hijabs and other religious attire.

Last month , several human rights organizations wrote to French authorities asking for a reconsideration, but the ban still stands.

“In advance of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the undersigned organisations are writing to ask the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to publicly call on sporting authorities in France to overturn all bans on athletes wearing the hijab1 in French sport, both at Paris 2024 and at all times and all levels of sport. The country’s discrimination against women and girls wearing the hijab is particularly
concerning given the IOC’s celebration of Paris 2024 as the first “Gender Equal Olympics”.

Women and girls in France who wear the hijab have been and are being prevented from playing multiple sports, including football, basketball, judo,
boxing, volleyball and badminton – even at youth and amateur levels. The hijab bans in sports have resulted in many Muslim athletes being discriminated against, invisibilised, excluded and humiliated, causing
trauma and social isolation – some have left or are considering leaving the country to seek playing opportunities elsewhere.”

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