French Bill to Ban Hijab in Sports Sparks Outrage

A proposed bill in France aims to ban the hijab from all sports competitions, provoking strong reactions from Muslim athletes and human rights advocates who deem it discriminatory, Middle East Eye reported. The legislation, known as the “law on secularism in sport,” has already passed the Senate and is set for a vote in the lower house of parliament. It prohibits any religious or political symbols during competitions and seeks to extend existing bans enforced by individual sports federations.

Supporters of the bill argue it combats “Islamism.” Critics highlight that the focus on the hijab reflects rising Islamophobia in France, where similar restrictions already exist in schools and public service. Activists warn that the ban could severely limit Muslim women’s participation in sports and their rights to religious expression. The situation remains tense as the vote date approaches, with potential government resignations looming if support for the bill falters.

It should be mentioned that French Prime Minister François Bayrou has recently reversed his stance on banning the hijab in sports competitions, emphasizing the need to avoid stigmatizing Muslims in France..