UN Experts Criticize France’s Hijab Ban for Athletes as Discriminatory, Demand Reversal

United Nations rights experts have criticized France’s decision to prohibit women and girls who wear the Muslim headscarf from participating in sports competitions, labeling it as “discriminatory” and calling for its reversal.

Citing its strict secularism laws, France has banned athletes from wearing religious symbols, including the hijab, during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Additionally, the country’s football and basketball federations have chosen to exclude headscarf-wearing players from competitions, even at the amateur level.

In a statement released on Monday, signed by eight independent UN experts, it was asserted that these policies “are disproportionate and discriminatory” and violate athletes’ rights to express their identity, religion, or beliefs publicly and privately, as well as their participation in cultural life.

The experts emphasized that “Muslim women and girls who wear the hijab must have equal rights to participate in cultural and sporting life, and to take part in all aspects of French society.”

This statement was endorsed by the UN special rapporteurs on cultural rights, minority issues, and freedom of religion and belief, along with members of the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls.

Although they are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, they do not represent the UN itself.

France’s secularism laws are designed to maintain state neutrality in religious matters while ensuring citizens can freely practice their faith. These laws prohibit students, teachers, and civil servants from wearing “ostentatious” religious symbols.

However, the UN experts contended that “the neutrality and secular nature of the state are not legitimate grounds for imposing restrictions on rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.”

They added that any limitations on these freedoms must be “proportionate, necessary to reach one of the objectives stated in international law, and justified by facts rather than assumptions or prejudices.”

In light of the growing intolerance and stigma faced by women and girls who choose to wear the hijab, the experts urged France to take measures to protect their rights and promote equality and respect for cultural diversity.

While the French team for the upcoming Olympics does not include any athletes who wear the hijab, the International Olympic Committee has permitted participants to wear the hijab in the athletes’ village.