Sports and human rights organizations are urging International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach to help overturn a ban on French athletes wearing the hijab, which has been put in place by French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera. The ban on hijabs goes against the Olympic Charter and is seen as a violation of the rights of Muslim female athletes in France. The ban has led to discrimination, humiliation, and trauma against Muslim athletes, some of whom have left the country to seek opportunities elsewhere. The groups are calling for the ban to be lifted to ensure gender equality in sports in France and to allow all women and girls to participate in sports without discrimination.
Paris 2024 marks the first Olympics with an equal number of male and female athletes, but the ban on hijabs in France has hindered the ability of Muslim female athletes to fully express their faith and pursue their athletic aspirations. French basketball player Helene Ba and former NCAA player Bilqis Abdul Qaadir have spoken out against the bans, emphasizing that sport is a human right and athletes should be able to compete while wearing whatever clothing is necessary for their safety. The bans, which include headscarves, have prevented Muslim women and girls from training and competing at the Olympic level, further exacerbating inequalities in sports.
Despite efforts to overturn bans on hijabs in sports, such as a global campaign led by Bilqis Abdul Qaadir in 2017, discriminatory policies continue to exist in countries like France. Concerns have been raised that lifting the ban now, just 45 days before the Olympics, would not allow enough time for Muslim female athletes to fully prepare and compete at the games. The director of global initiatives for Human Rights Watch, Minky Worden, has emphasized the detrimental impact of such bans on the participation of women and girls in sports, stating that the damage has already been done for many athletes who have been excluded from training and competitions.
In a letter addressed to Thomas Bach, signed by Amnesty International and ten other organizations, the importance of allowing all women and girls to participate in sports without discrimination is highlighted. The ban on hijabs in France has been described as a clear violation of the Olympic Charter and an infringement on fundamental rights and freedoms. Athletes like Diaba Konate have expressed frustration over being barred from representing their country due to discriminatory policies that prohibit the wearing of hijabs. The letter aims to draw attention to the need for inclusivity and diversity in representing the French team at international sporting events.
Former athletes, including former NBA player Tariq Abdul-Wahad, former English cricketer Azeem Rafiq, former world champion fencer Saoussen Boudiaf, and former member of Nigeria’s World Cup and Olympic women’s soccer team Ayisat Yusuf, have shown their support for overturning the hijab ban in France. The ban on hijabs is considered to reinforce gender and racial stereotypes and perpetuate anti-Muslim sentiment in French society. The sports and human rights organizations are calling for swift action to reverse the ban and ensure that all female athletes, regardless of their religious beliefs, have equal opportunities to participate in sports at all levels in France.
