Controversial Move: France's 2024 Olympic Ban on Athlete's Hijabs Sparks Global Outrage

The French government has received criticism from the United Nations human rights office for its decision to prohibit French athletes from wearing the hijab at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Maria Hurtado, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated on Tuesday that no one should dictate a woman's attire choices.

A Muslim woman, wearing the style of dress called an abaya, walks in a street in Nantes, France, August 29, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Stephane Mahe/Reuters

French schools turn away girls wearing abayas as Muslim rights group challenges ban

According to the committee on elimination of discrimination against women, any state party of the convention (France, in this case) is obligated to take appropriate measures to modify social or cultural patterns that promote the inferiority or superiority of either gender," Hurtado explained.

However, discriminatory practices against a particular group can have negative consequences. Therefore, international human rights standards state that restrictions on the expression of religions or beliefs, such as clothing choices, are only acceptable under specific circumstances that prioritize public safety, public order, public health, or morality, and must be proportionate and necessary," she emphasized.

Hurtados remarks followed the statement made by French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra on Sunday, declaring that French athletes will not have the liberty to don a hijab at the forthcoming Paris Olympics in 2024. Oudéa-Castéra advocated for a rigorous implementation of a secular code in sports, promoting a steadfast adherence to secular principles.

In northern France, on August 28, 2023, a woman gracefully strolls through the streets of Lille wearing an abaya dress, a flowing garment of Middle Eastern origin. This event has sparked a renewed discussion regarding France's secular laws and the manner in which Muslim minorities are treated. The photo capturing this moment was taken by Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images.

The French court has upheld the ban on wearing abayas in public schools. This decision is aimed at preventing any form of proselytizing and ensuring complete neutrality within the public service, according to Oudéa-Castera, who spoke to France 3, a state broadcaster.

According to the ministry's press office, the minister simply restated the law. This refers to a court's decision in June to maintain the ban on wearing the hijab during football games. The ruling earlier this year stated that sports federations responsible for a public service must adhere to the principle of public service neutrality. The ministry stated that French teams, in accordance with this ruling, are obliged to follow the principle of public service neutrality in all national and international competitions. Consequently, individuals representing France in such competitions cannot wear a headscarf or any other religiously affiliated accessory or outfit.

The French minister stated that each international federation will establish the rules that are applicable to other athletes, under the oversight of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "There will be variation among sports," she added.