French International Amnesty Urges To Reject Bill To Ban Wearing Hijab In Sports Competition

UNSPLASH/Fitsum Admasu ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The International Amnesty urges French lawmakers to reject draft laws (RUU) aimed at banning headscarves and other religious symbols in sports competitions.

The bill proposing banning clothing and symbols showing religious affiliation in all sports in France, will be discussed in the French Senate this week.

Amnesty International highlights that although the principle of secularism in the French Constitution theoretically protects the right to freedom of religion for everyone, this principle is often used to limit Muslim women's access to public spaces.

The global human rights organization also highlighted that French authorities have historically implemented laws and discriminatory policies regarding Muslim women's clothing.

In addition, a number of sports federations in France have also banned the use of headscarves in various sports.

Amnesty warned that if this bill was passed, the policy would trigger racism and exacerbate "hostile environment" against Muslims in France.

In a report published ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Amnesty International emphasized that banning Muslim women from participating freely in sports could have a negative impact on their mental and physical well-being.

International Amnesty researcher Anna Blus noted that the ban on headscarves for French athletes at the Paris Olympics has sparked international criticism.

He stressed six months after the controversy, French authorities not only maintained the discriminatory policy but also sought to expand it to all sports.

According to Blus, although this ban was imposed under the pretext of protecting secularism, in reality, the policy specifically targets Muslim women.

"If Muslim women wear headscarves or other religious clothes, they will be prohibited from participating in all sports competitions," he said as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, February 19.

He also warned that the headscarf as a threat to secularism is a very dangerous act.

Religious discrimination

The bill, according to him, will only exacerbate religious discrimination and racism against Muslim women in France.

"All women have the right to determine their own clothes," he stressed, linking the ban on headscarves in sports to Islamophobia.

Haifa Tlili, a sociologist and co-founder of the Basketball community for All, also criticized the ban.

He emphasized that there is no objective evidence that can justify the ban on the headscarf for Muslim athletes.

"Therefore, it is wrong if there are parties who claim that the rules that exclude female Muslim athletes are a must. There is no legal justification for this," said Tlili.

Helene Ba, co-founder of the same organization as well as professional basketball players, warned that this bill could have a bad impact on Muslim women.

He mentioned the impacts such as insults, stigmatization, trauma, resignation from sports, loss of social relations, decreased self-confidence, loss of women's teams, to threats to the continuity of sports clubs.

Currently, the French Football Federation (FFF) prohibits the use of headscarves in sporting events, while the French Handball Federation allows it.

The bill introduced last year by Senator Michel Savin aims to expand the ban on religious symbols -- including the headscarf -- in all sports competitions in France.

In addition to prohibiting the headscarf, the draft law also seeks to prohibit joint prayers in sports facilities funded by the state.