France: Hijab bans in French sport expose discriminatory double standards ahead of Olympic and Paralympic Games  (2024)

  • IOC response to joint letter calling on lifting of hijab ban dismissive and inadequate

The ban on French women athletes who wear headscarves from competing at the Olympic Games breaches international human rights laws and exposes the discriminatory hypocrisy of French authorities and the craven weakness of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said Amnesty International in a new report published ahead of the Paris Olympic Games.

“We can’t breathe anymore. Even sports, we can’t do them anymore”: Violations of Muslim women’s and girls’ human rights through hijab bans in sports in France, details the devastating impact that hijab bans are having on Muslim women and girls at all levels of French sport.

“Banning French athletes from competing with sports hijabs at the Olympic and Paralympic Games makes a mockery of claims that Paris 2024 is the first Gender Equal Olympics and lays bare the racist gender discrimination that underpins access to sport in France,” said Anna Błuś, Amnesty International’s Women’s Rights Researcher in Europe.

Discriminatory rules policing what women wear are a violation of Muslim women’s and girls’ human rights and have a devastating impact on their participation in sport, blocking efforts to make sports more inclusive and more accessible

Anna Błuś, Amnesty International's Women's Rights Researcher in Europe

“Discriminatory rules policing what women wear are a violation of Muslim women’s and girls’ human rights and have a devastating impact on their participation in sport, blocking efforts to make sports more inclusive and more accessible.”

Hijab bans in multiple sports in France have created an untenable situation whereby the country hosting the Olympic Games is in breach of multiple obligations under international human rights treaties to which it is a party as well as commitments and values set out in the IOC’s own human rights framework. Despite repeated demands, the IOC has so far refused to call on sporting authorities in France to overturn their bans on athletes wearing the hijab at the Olympics and at all levels of sport. In response to a letter from a coalition of organizations urging it to take action, the IOC claimed that France’s prohibition on sports hijabs was outside the remit of the Olympic movement, claiming that “freedom of religion is interpreted in many different ways by different states.” The IOC’s response did not mention other rights violated by the ban, such as freedom of expression and access to health.

France’s bans on sports headgear contradict the clothing rules of international sports bodies such as FIFA (International Football Federation), FIBA (International Basketball Federation) and FIVB (International Volleyball Federation). Amnesty International looked at rules in 38 European countries and found that France is the only one that has enshrined bans on religious headwear either on the level of national laws or individual sports regulations.

Hélène Bâ, a basketball player, told Amnesty International that the Olympics hijab ban “is a clear violation of the Olympic charter, values and provisions, and an infringement on our fundamental rights and freedoms…I think it’s going to be a shameful moment for France.”

Another woman, “B”, told Amnesty International: “It is sad. It’s even shameful to be at this point in 2024, to block dreams just because of a piece of fabric.”

In France, the prohibition on Muslim women from wearing any form of religious headgear extends far beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bans onhijabs are in place in several sports including football, basketball and volleyball, at both professional and amateur levels. These bans, put in place by sports federations, mean that many Muslim women are not only excluded from participating in sports but also never get the necessary training and competition opportunities to reach the Olympic level. 

France’s exclusionary bans cause humiliation, trauma and fear and have resulted in many women and girls dropping out of sports they love or even seeking opportunities in other countries. Preventing Muslim women and girls from fully and freely participating in sports, for leisure and recreation or as a career, can have devastating impacts on all aspects of their lives, including on their mental and physical health.

Hélène Bâ, who hasn’t been allowed to compete in basketball since October 2023, told Amnesty International: “Mentally it is also hard because you really feel excluded…Especially if you go to the bench and the referee tells you to go to the ladders [stands]. Everyone sees you…it’s a walk of shame.”

Under international law, state neutrality or secularism (“laїcité”) are not legitimate reasons for imposing restrictions on freedom of expression and/or freedom of religion. And yet for several years, French authorities have been weaponizing these concepts to justify the enactment of laws and policies that disproportionately impact Muslim women and girls. And all of this is occurring against a backdrop relentless, twenty-yearcampaign of harmful lawmaking and regulation of Muslim women’s and girls’ clothing in France, fuelled by prejudice, racism and gendered Islamophobia.

Founé Diawara, co-President of the football collective the Hijabeuses, told Amnesty International: “Our fight is not political or religious but centred on our human right to participate in sports.”

No policymaker should dictate what a woman can or cannot wear and no woman should be forced to choose between the sport she loves and her faith, cultural identity, or beliefs

Anna Błuś

“No policymaker should dictate what a woman can or cannot wear and no woman should be forced to choose between the sport she loves and her faith, cultural identity, or beliefs,” said Anna Błuś.

“It is not too late for the French authorities, sports federations and the IOC to do the right thing and to overturn all bans on athletes wearing the hijab in French sport, both at the summer Olympics and in all sport, at all levels.”

Background

On 11 June, members of the Sport & Rights Alliance and Basket Pour Toutes published a letter written to the International Olympic Committee demanding that they publicly call on sporting authorities in France to overturn all bans on athletes wearing the hijabin French sport, both at Paris 2024 and at all times and all levels of sport.On 18 June, the IOC responded to the organisations.

France: Hijab bans in French sport expose discriminatory double standards ahead of Olympic and Paralympic Games  (2024)

FAQs

France: Hijab bans in French sport expose discriminatory double standards ahead of Olympic and Paralympic Games ? ›

"Banning French athletes from competing with sports hijabs at the Olympic and Paralympic Games makes a mockery of claims that Paris 2024

Paris 2024
Paris 2024 will mark the centenary of Paris 1924 and Chamonix 1924 (which in turn marks the centenary of the Winter Olympics), will be the sixth Olympic Games hosted by France (three Summer Olympics and three Winter Olympics) and the first French Olympics since the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › 2024_Summer_Olympics
is the first Gender Equal Olympics and lays bare the racist gender discrimination that underpins access to sport in France," Anna Blus, Amnesty International's Women's Rights ...

Did France ban hijabs for the Olympics? ›

After months of campaigning by sporting organizations, France has not reversed its decision to ban French athletes who observe the hijab from participating in the summer Olympics; a move that human rights organizations say is, at best, a contradiction of the nation's pledge to deliver the first gender-equal games, and ...

Did France ban the hijab? ›

“This means that they must respect the principles of secularism and neutrality, which, according to French law, means prohibition from wearing outwardly religious symbols, including the hijab, veil and headscarf when they are acting in their official capacity and on official occasions as members of the French national ...

Can you wear a hijab in the Olympics? ›

Activists have slammed the decision to ban French women from competing in Hijab at the upcoming Olympics, saying it is a form of discrimination.

What country was banned from the Olympics? ›

In 2017, Russia was suspended from the Olympics by the IOC. That means Russian athletes can only compete as "individual neutral athletes," without flying the Russian flag or playing the national anthem.

Is it compulsory to wear hijab in France? ›

These cannot be worn in any public space in France, at risk of a €150 fine. The hijab or headscarf, however, is completely legal in public spaces including shops, cafés and the streets and it's common to see women wearing them, especially in certain areas of the big cities like Paris.

Is it a major sin to not wear a hijab? ›

Modest clothing is also an integral part of following Allah's command. Therefore, we cannot comment on whether not opting for hijab is an unforgivable sin or not, but we do know that choosing to ignore the command could be a source of some punishment. However, Allah is the greatest, and he knows the best.

Do female tourists have to wear hijab? ›

Do female tourists need to cover their hair? Some, but not all, Egyptian women wear headscarves or hijabs to cover their hair. It's a personal choice and not something that's legally required. Tourists aren't required to or expected to cover their heads.

Can you wear a hijab in the pool? ›

Muslim women want to swim freely. Therefore, the question of “what do Muslim women wear when they swim?” comes to mind. Hijab dresses are the answer to this query. A Hijab dress provides access to the sea or pool, where both men and women can swim comfortably.

Are there rules for wearing a hijab? ›

According to Islamic rules, the hijab should be thick and opaque enough to cover your entire head and neck. It shouldn't be too decorative or too bright that it catches the eye, and it shouldn't be perfumed. On top of that, it shouldn't resemble what men wear, and it shouldn't be too tight.

Can hijabis play sports? ›

Women can play sports if they follow these guidelines: 1- Engaging in sport should be far removed from the eyes of men; 2- women should wear modest, covering clothing; 3- there should be no gambling or betting; 4- the sport should not lead to any argument or conflict; 5- There should be no playing of music during ...

Do Olympians use condoms? ›

Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Providing condoms at the Olympics has been a tradition since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, as an effort to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS, according to CBS Sports.

Is it illegal to not wear a hijab? ›

The practice of Islamic veiling varies around the world according to local laws and customs. The hijab is currently required by law to be worn by women in Iran and in Afghanistan by the Taliban government.

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