Paris 2024-bound Australian boxer and Commonwealth medallist Tina Rahimi, along with American sabre fencer and Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad, have joined the rising chorus of Muslim Olympians opposing the ban on hijabs for French athletes.
(Credit: Tina Rahimi & Ibtihaj Muhammad, Instagram)
Elham Asaad Buaras
Amnesty International has condemned the ban on French women athletes wearing hijabs at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, calling it a blatant violation of international human rights and a clear mockery of the claim that Paris 2024 is the first Gender Equal Olympics.
The prohibition, announced in September 2023, was reiterated by France’s sports minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, who told France 3 TV that “members of our delegations, within our French teams, will not use the headscarf,” aiming to ensure “the prevention of any form of promoting beliefs and the complete impartiality of public service.”
The United Nations also strongly criticized the ban, highlighting that “limitations on expressions of religion or beliefs, including attire choices, are justified only under narrowly defined circumstances that address genuine concerns of public safety, public order, or public health, and in a manner that is necessary and proportionate.”
Amnesty’s 32-page report, published just a week before the Paris Olympics, condemns the French authorities for their discriminatory policies and criticizes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its inaction.
Titled “Violations of Muslim Women’s and Girls’ Human Rights Through Hijab Bans in Sports in France,” the report reveals that France is the only one among 38 European countries to impose bans on religious headwear, whether through national laws or specific sports regulations. This restriction directly contradicts the clothing rules set by international sports organizations such as the International Football Federation (FIFA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
The report details the severe impact these hijab bans have on Muslim women and girls at all levels of French sports. Civil rights activists argue that these bans have created an untenable situation, putting France in violation of several international human rights treaties to which it is a signatory. Additionally, the bans contradict the commitments and values outlined in the IOC’s human rights framework.
Anna Błuś, Amnesty International’s Women’s Rights Researcher in Europe, stated, “Banning French athletes from competing in sports hijabs at the Olympic and Paralympic Games makes a mockery of claims that Paris 2024 is the first Gender Equal Olympics and lays bare the racist gender discrimination that underpins access to sport in France.
“No policymaker should dictate what a woman can or cannot wear, and no woman should be forced to choose between the sport she loves and her faith, cultural identity, or beliefs.
“It is not too late for the French authorities, sports federations, and the International Olympic Committee to do the right thing and overturn all bans on athletes wearing the hijab in French sport, both at the summer Olympics and in all sports, at all levels.”
Hélène Bâ, a basketball player sidelined since October 2023, voiced her concerns to Amnesty about the Olympics hijab ban. She stated, “The ban is a clear violation of the Olympic charter, values, and provisions, and an infringement on our fundamental rights and freedoms… I think it’s going to be a shameful moment for France.” She added, “Mentally, it is also hard because you feel excluded… Especially if you go to the bench and the referee tells you to go to the stands. Everyone sees you. It’s a walk of shame.”
Sarah Ourahmounen, a French boxer and silver medalist in the flyweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics, highlighted, “The hijab ban is not just about clothing; it’s about the right to express one’s identity and beliefs. This decision could discourage many young Muslim girls from pursuing their dreams in sports. We should be promoting inclusion, not exclusion.”
International athletes also criticized the hijab ban for its impact on their French counterparts. American sabre fencer and Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad stated, “Banning the hijab in sports only serves to marginalize Muslim women further and denies them the opportunity to compete and showcase their talents on the world stage.
This decision is a setback for inclusivity and diversity in sports.” Muhammad made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics as the first American woman to compete wearing a hijab.
Ruth Gbagbi, an Ivorian taekwondo athlete and two-time Olympic bronze medalist, argued, “Athletes should be judged by their performance, not by their appearance or religious attire. The hijab ban is a form of discrimination and undermines the principles of fair play and respect that the Olympic Games stand for.”
Australian Muslim boxer Tina Rahimi, 28, who has qualified for Paris 2024 and wears a full hijab during her bouts, also spoke out against the ban. In a social media post, she explained, “It’s so unfortunate for the athletes in France because it has nothing to do with their performance,” said the Commonwealth bronze medalist.
“It should not get in the way of you being an athlete. It’s so hard for you to be an Olympic athlete and to think that you have to give away your faith to participate in these events. I believe everyone should be equal. How is my hijab going to affect anything? People grow up wanting to go to the Olympics and it’s all that they work towards, and all that they want to achieve. That would be taking away someone’s dream. I stand by all the French girls…. It’s really, really unfortunate.”
Despite repeated demands, the IOC has so far refused to pressure French sporting authorities to lift their bans on athletes wearing hijabs at the Olympics and across all sports levels.
In response to a letter sent on May 24 by a coalition of organisations urging action, the IOC argued that France’s ban on sports hijabs falls outside the Olympic movement’s remit, claiming, “Freedom of religion is interpreted in many different ways by different states.” This response says Amnesty failed to address other rights violated by the ban, such as freedom of expression and access to health.
Amnesty’s report reveals that hijab bans affect a range of sports—including football, basketball, and volleyball—across both professional and amateur levels. These restrictions, imposed by sports federations, not only bar many Muslim women from participating in sports but also hinder their access to training and competitive opportunities necessary for reaching the Olympic stage.
In France, these exclusionary policies have led numerous women and girls to either abandon sports or seek opportunities abroad. The denial of full and unrestricted participation in sports, whether for leisure, recreation, or professional aspirations, significantly impacts their mental and physical well-being. Amnesty also scrutinised France’s claims of neutrality and secularism, contending that international law does not support such restrictions on freedom of expression and religion.
They argue that French authorities have manipulated these principles to justify discriminatory laws and policies targeting Muslim women and girls. The report highlights that these actions are part of a persistent two-decade effort of discriminatory legislation and regulation concerning Muslim women’s and girls’ attire in France, fueled by prejudice, racism, and gendered Islamophobia.
Founé Diawara, Co-President of Hijabeuse—a four-year-old football collective of French Muslim women opposing the French Football Federation’s hijab ban—emphasized to Amnesty, “Our struggle is not political or religious but fundamentally about our human right to participate in sports.”
