France Faces Criticism Over Sports Hijab Ban

France Faces Criticism Over Sports Hijab Ban
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The debate over the hijab in sports has intensified, with human rights advocates calling on France to lift its ban, arguing that the measure excludes women from athletic participation and denies them their right to engage fully in sports.

France first implemented restrictions in schools in 2004 and has since extended the ban to sports, prohibiting religious head coverings in competitions including football, basketball, and volleyball. In February, the French Senate approved legislation reinforcing the ban on religious symbols, including the hijab, across all sporting events.

The controversy resurfaced during the annual “Play the Game” conference in Finland, a forum aimed at promoting dialogue on sports democracy. Khiran Noor, founder of Sports League, said that “denying a space for the hijab in sports effectively denies women their presence in the arena.”

Frank Kondé Tandberg, policy advisor for Amnesty International Norway, criticized the ban as lacking legitimate purpose and called for its immediate repeal. He argued that forcing athletes to choose between their sporting careers and personal identity is humiliating and can lead to exclusion and physical and psychological harm.

Former French basketball player Hélène Pa, who was barred from competing due to her hijab, condemned the “neutrality” argument, saying sports inherently involve distinctions based on age, gender, weight, height, race, and religion. She called the justification “hypocritical,” emphasizing that the ban undermines inclusivity.

Amnesty International’s research indicates that France is the only country among 38 surveyed that prohibits religious head coverings in sports. In contrast, global brands such as Nike and Hija have developed sports hijabs from technical fabrics designed to enhance comfort and enable broader participation for female athletes worldwide.