France Softens Regarding Hijab at the 2024 Olympics

JAKARTA – The French government is starting to soften and is looking for the best solution regarding the rules prohibiting their athletes from wearing the hijab during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This was after their sprinter athlete Sounkamba Sylla wrote on her Instagram account that she was banned from attending the Olympic opening ceremony because she was wearing a hijab.

"You were selected to take part in the Olympics held in your country, but you could not take part in the opening ceremony because you were wearing the hijab," wrote Sylla.

This regulation prohibiting wearing the hijab was issued by France under the pretext of secularism. This regulation has made them criticized because they are considered to discriminate against Muslims.

France, which is home to Europe's largest Muslim minority, also bans civil servants and school pupils from wearing religious symbols and clothing in public institutions.

In response to Sylla's upload, French government and Olympic officials began to be willing to find a middle ground for Sylla so that he could attend the opening ceremony.

"Our citizens expect us to follow these principles of secularism, but we also need to innovate to find solutions so that everyone is happy," said Olympic and Paralympic Sports Minister Amelia Oudea-Castera.

According to Human Rights Watch, many French sports authorities do prohibit women from wearing religious head coverings, such as in football, basketball, judo and boxing.

On the other hand, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) itself has no rules prohibiting wearing the hijab. So, these rules will not apply to athletes from other countries during this year's Olympics.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will officially open on Friday, July 26. However, several sports have already competed since Wednesday, July 24.

For the first time in history, this opening event will be held outside the stadium, precisely on the River Seine. The boat parade will last for six kilometers starting from the Austerlitz bridge.

The parade will pass several iconic Paris buildings such as the Paris Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, the Esplanade des Invalides and the Grand Palais.

The final point of the parade is at Trocadero Park with the Eiffel Tower landmark in the background. That is where the 2024 Olympic torch will be lit to mark the opening.