On Monday, United Nations rights experts condemned France’s decisions to bar women and girls who wear the Muslim headscarf from participating in sports competitions, labeling them as “discriminatory” and calling for their reversal.
France has cited its strict secularism laws to prohibit 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 players wearing the headscarf from competitions, even at the amateur level.
These measures “are disproportionate and discriminatory, infringing upon the rights of French athletes to freely express their identity, religion, or beliefs, both privately and publicly, as well as to engage in cultural life,” stated a release signed by eight independent UN experts.
The experts emphasized that “Muslim women and girls who wear the hijab must have equal rights to participate in cultural and sporting activities and to engage fully in all aspects of French society.” The statement was supported by 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.
While these experts are independent and do not represent the United Nations, their message is clear. France’s secularism laws are designed to ensure state neutrality in religious affairs while allowing citizens the freedom to practice their religion. These laws prohibit “ostentatious” religious symbols in schools and by civil servants.
However, the experts argued that “the neutrality and secular nature of the state are not valid justifications for restricting freedoms of expression and religion.” They stated that any limitations on these freedoms must be proportionate, necessary for achieving specific objectives outlined in international law, and based on facts rather than assumptions or biases.
In a climate of rising intolerance towards women and girls who choose to wear the hijab, the experts urged France to take all necessary measures to protect their rights and promote equality and respect for cultural diversity.
