In a strong statement on Monday, United Nations human rights experts condemned recent decisions by French authorities banning women and girls who wear the Hijab from participating in sports competitions, calling the measures “discriminatory” and demanding they be reversed.
France, citing its strict secularism laws, recently prohibited athletes from wearing religious symbols, including the hijab, in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Additionally, French football and basketball federations have extended this ban to players wearing headscarves, including those at the amateur level.
The decision has not gone down well with athletes and governing bodies alike.
Eight independent UN experts, including special rapporteurs on cultural rights, minority issues, and freedom of religion and belief, argued that these restrictions infringe on the rights of Muslim women and girls, denying them the opportunity to freely express their identity and participate in cultural life. “Muslim women and girls who wear the hijab must have equal rights to participate in cultural and sporting life and in all aspects of French society,” they emphasized.
While France maintains that its secularism laws are intended to ensure state neutrality in religious matters, the UN experts argue that this principle is not a valid reason to restrict freedoms of expression and religion. They stated, “Any limitations on these freedoms must be proportionate, necessary, and justified by facts rather than by presumptions, assumptions, or prejudices.”
The experts also highlighted that in an atmosphere of rising intolerance and stigmatization, France has a duty to protect the rights of women and girls who choose to wear the hijab, ensuring equality and promoting cultural diversity.
Despite the outcry, the relevant authorities are yet to reverse this Ludacris ban on hijab, putting hundreds and thousands of young girls and women at risk of leaving the sports world.