The 2024 Olympic Games is anticipated to be a celebration of spectacular athleticism, unity, and cultural diversity. As contestants are slated to gather in Paris, the spirit of competition resonates more profoundly than ever, against the backdrop of significant societal controversies, including one particularly poignant issue: France's ban on the hijab.

This ban, emblematic of broader debates over religious and cultural expression, has sparked international dialogue and introspection as athletes from various nations prepare to compete, representing their identities and values.

In September, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera stated that the government was opposed to any display of religious symbols during sporting events. 

"What does that mean? That means a ban on any type of proselytizing. That means absolute neutrality in public services," she told France 3 television.

"The France team will not wear the headscarf."

The decision was criticized by the UN when UN rights office spokeswoman Marta Hurtado told reporters in Geneva that "No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear.”

The all-covering robe, known as the abaya in schools and worn mostly by Muslims, was also banned in September.

Enforced by Education Minister Gabriel Attal, the ban faced criticism for its discriminatory nature.  The Council of State, France's highest administrative court, was urged to repeal the ban. Still, the court maintained that the ban is not "a serious or unlawful infringement of fundamental freedoms."

The court claimed that the wearing of the abaya or kameez in schools had increased significantly during the 2022-2023 academic year and described it as a religious statement.

The Hijab is central to the religious identity of Muslim women who wear it and carry religious and cultural obligations. It is not merely an accessory but a visible marker of religious identity and a way of life for many individuals.

Hijab ban 'discriminatory hypocrisy'

In a report: Violations of Muslim women’s and girls’ human rights through hijab bans in sports in France, Amnesty International called the ban evidence of "discriminatory hypocrisy of French authorities and the craven weakness of the International Olympic Committee."

Amnesty notes that France stands alone among European nations in legislating against religious headwear in general laws and sports regulations. Additionally, these bans contravene the rules of international sports organizations such as FIFA, FIBA, and FIVB.

As per its official statement, the IOC “stands for non-discrimination as one of the founding pillars of the Olympic Movement, which is reflected in the Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principle 6:

“The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms outlined in this Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, color, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

However, despite this official stance, the IOC has declined to pressure French authorities to revoke their ban.

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The ban is an obvious infringement on individual freedom to practice religion openly, something a secular and self-proclaimed democratic society like France claims to be. "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" seem to be empty words that do not extend to all citizens of the country. 

Banning the hijab can impact athletes' participation in sports, potentially limiting opportunities for Muslim women who choose to wear it. This lack of diversity and representation is sure to affect the way Muslim parents perceive the importance of their customs and how it might hinder the future of their children.

How can a Muslim family pass on their religious views and traditions to their children knowing that such practices will have the potential to limit their capabilities and achievements in the public sphere?

In essence, this forces a collision of principles: the right to religious freedom and cultural expression versus the principles of secularism and neutrality in public life. 

According to Amnesty, after a letter from organizations urging the IOC to take action, the organization claimed that France's ban fell outside its scope citing that  "freedom of religion is interpreted in many different ways by different states." 

The French constitution guarantees equal treatment under the law for all citizens, irrespective of origin, race, or religion. However, this contrasts sharply with recent actions that appear to be a secular crackdown on various religious practices, mostly targeting Muslims with anti-Islamic rhetoric.

France has historically been more secular than many European counterparts. What distinguishes its approach to Islam is its rooted bias in Christianity. Leaders like Marine Le Pen of the National Front assert that Islam poses a threat to France's Christian foundations.

In 2017, despite controversial statements comparing Muslims to WWII-era Nazis occupying France, Marine Le Pen garnered 36% of the vote.  Additionally, echoes of U.S. rhetoric from the war on terror have made Muslims more susceptible to targeting.

In June 2024,  the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights released its yearly report on racism in France, indicating that racist incidents rose from 1,636 in 2022 to 3,139 in 2023. 

Xenophobia masquerading as secularism

France has resisted efforts such as the Council of Europe's campaign against anti-Muslim speech promoting women's diversity and the freedom to wear the hijab. In April of 2021, the French Senate passed an amendment prohibiting girls under 18 from wearing headscarves. This move follows earlier bans on face coverings in public spaces in 2011 and the hijab in schools in 2004.

In essence, by ostensibly "protecting" young people from wearing veils, France is depriving individuals of the freedom to make their own choices.

People living in France are feeling attacked about their beliefs and forced to conform to this xenophobia masquerading as secularism. 

This xenophobia goes one step further than the Islamic dress and extends to people’s nationality. 

Last month, the National Rally proposed that anyone with dual nationality in France could be barred from holding strategic posts of state. 

The left sees the measure as made to classify individuals based on ethnicity, background, or culture. 

Islamophobia in France and across the EU has been a persistent issue, which has recently intensified amidst the energy and cost-of-living crises. Many right-wing advocates attribute these crises to migrants, portraying them as economic burdens.

Last year, France's highest administrative court ruled against a group of Muslim female soccer players in their case against the French Football Federation (FFF), enforcing a ban on the Islamic headscarf, or Hijab, during games. 

Additionally, France has enacted laws aimed at safeguarding its strict form of secularism, known as "laicite", which President Emmanuel Macron argues is threatened by Islamism. Consequently, several Muslim organizations and human rights groups contend that these laws unfairly target Muslims, erode democratic protections, and expose them to discrimination.

The prohibition of these religious symbols, particularly in sports, undermines religious identity and suppresses cultural expression, perpetuating exclusion and inequality. Athletes deserve the opportunity to compete while honoring their religious beliefs, provided it does not compromise fair play or safety. However, instead of embracing societal diversity, many in France feel pressured to conform, forcing a difficult choice between assimilation and maintaining personal beliefs, potentially isolating those who choose the latter.