A group of United Nations (UN) experts has called on the French government on Monday to reverse measures banning the wearing of the hijab in sports. These restrictions, which led to the exclusion of some athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, have been labeled by the signatories as “discriminatory and disproportionate”, affecting both the right to identity and religious freedom of sportswomen.
In a joint statement, the UN representatives recalled recent cases of exclusion in French sport, not only at the Olympic level, but also in competitions regulated by the football and basketball federations. These institutions have imposed restrictions both in professional competitions and in ‘amateur’ sport, prohibiting female players from participating if they wear the Islamic veil.
LIMITATIONS AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
The signatories of the communiqué warned that these measures infringe on “the rights of women to freely manifest their identity, religion or belief in public or in private,” stressing that in a context of growing intolerance towards those who wear the hijab, it is crucial that France adopt measures to protect them and promote equality. “France must take all measures in its power to protect these women and girls, safeguard their rights and promote mutual respect,” they added.
The experts believe that the restrictions imposed by the French state and its sports entities are not justified on the principles of neutrality and secularism. They argue that these values should not be excuses for limiting fundamental freedoms such as the expression of religion or belief.
RESPONSIBILITY AND POSITION OF THE UN
Among the signatories of the declaration are the UN rapporteur for cultural rights, Alexandra Xanthaki, the special rapporteur for minority rights, Nicolas Levrat, and the expert on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea, as well as the five members of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls. This group has called on France to re-evaluate its policies to prevent the ban from continuing to affect Muslim sportswomen who, because of their beliefs, wish to compete while wearing the hijab.
This statement emphasizes the United Nations’ position on respect for cultural and religious diversity in the field of sport, and reaffirms that bans “are not only discriminatory, but also violate women’s human rights.
