France bans hijab for Olympics 2024

TEHRAN (defapress) - The 2024 Olympic Games is anticipated to celebrate spectacular athleticism, unity, and cultural diversity. As contestants are slated to gather in Paris, the spirit of competition resonates more profoundly than ever, against the backdrop of significant societal controversies, including one particularly poignant issue: France's ban on the hijab.

This ban, emblematic of broader debates over religious and cultural expression, has sparked international dialogue and introspection as athletes from various nations prepare to compete, representing their identities and values.

In September, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera stated that the government was opposed to any display of religious symbols during sporting events. 

"What does that mean? That means a ban on any type of proselytizing. That means absolute neutrality in public services," she told France 3 television.

"The France team will not wear the headscarf."

The UN criticized the decision when UN rights office spokeswoman Marta Hurtado told reporters in Geneva that "No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear.”

The all-covering robe, known as the abaya in schools and worn mostly by Muslims, was also banned in September.

Enforced by Education Minister Gabriel Attal, the ban faced criticism for its discriminatory nature.  The Council of State, France's highest administrative court, was urged to repeal the ban. Still, the court maintained that the ban is not "a serious or unlawful infringement of fundamental freedoms."

The court claimed that the wearing of the abaya or kameez in schools had increased significantly during the 2022-2023 academic year and described it as a religious statement.

The Hijab is central to the religious identity of Muslim women who wear it and carry religious and cultural obligations. It is not merely an accessory but a visible marker of religious identity and a way of life for many individuals.