UN Experts Term France Hijab Ban in Sports Discriminatory

Mon Oct 28 2024
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GENEVA: United Nations rights experts on Monday condemned the decision of the French government barring women and girls from wearing Hijab in sports competitions, demanding its reversal.

France implemented strict laws on secularism banning its athletes from wearing religious symbols, including hijab, during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

French football and basketball federations have also opted to exclude players wearing Hijab from competitions.

Hijab Ban, French, UN, Sports, United Nations, Paris 2024 Olympics, Women

A statement signed by eight independent UN experts said these decisions “are disproportionate and discriminatory, and infringe on their rights (of French athletes) to freely manifest their identity, their religion or belief in private and in public, and to take part in cultural life.”

“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 of which they are a part,” they said.

The UN special rapporteurs on cultural rights, on minority issues, and on freedom of religion and belief, and members of the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls signed the statement.

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They are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations.

France is observing strict laws on secularism including prohibiting pupils and teachers in schools as well as civil servants from wearing religious symbols.

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

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