UN experts call France’s hijab ban in sports ‘discriminatory’ 

UN human rights experts have criticised France’s decisions to ban women and girls wearing the hijab from participating in sports competitions, labelling these moves “discriminatory” and calling for their reversal.

In preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, France is enforcing strict secularism laws that prevent athletes from displaying religious symbols, including the hijab. This restriction extends to football and basketball federations, affecting players who wear the hijab even at the amateur level.

The UN experts, a group of eight independent specialists, expressed concern that these measures disproportionately impact Muslim women and violate their rights to express their beliefs, and identity, and to fully participate in cultural life. They emphasized that Muslim women and girls should have equal opportunities to engage in French society, including sports and cultural events.

The experts include UN rapporteurs on cultural rights, minority issues, and freedom of religion, alongside the working group on discrimination against women and girls. Although they are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, they operate independently and do not officially represent the organisation.

France’s secularism laws aim to maintain a neutral state stance on religion, granting individuals the freedom to practice their beliefs. The laws ban “ostentatious” religious symbols in schools and certain public sectors. However, the UN experts argued that secularism does not justify restricting individuals’ rights to freedom of expression and belief.