French Weightlifting Champion Opposes Hijab Ban in Competitive Sport
Sylvie Eberena, a French national champion in Olympic weightlifting, has spoken out against a proposed law that would ban the wearing of hijabs in all competitive sports in France.
The National News reports that the French weightlifting champion has expressed serious criticism of the legislation, which has the backing of President Emmanuel Macron and has been adopted by the Senate, would prevent Eberena from competing in official events while wearing her veil.
Eberena, a mother and a Muslim convert, argues that the law is an attempt to sideline Muslim women from public life. She stated that if the ban goes into effect, she will continue to practice her sport but will not be able to show her progress in competition. The weightlifter’s image has reportedly already been removed from podium photos by her sports federation due to political pressure.
The proposed law has intensified a long-standing debate in France about secularism, known as “laïcité,” and its application to public life. While supporters of the bill claim it is necessary to protect secularism and combat radicalization, critics, including human rights organizations like Amnesty International, argue that the ban is discriminatory and infringes upon the rights of Muslim women. A 2022 study commissioned by the Sports Ministry reportedly found no evidence of a “significant phenomenon of radicalisation” in grassroots sports.
Amnesty International has noted that France is the only European country to have such bans, and the United Nations has previously condemned the rules as “disproportionate and discriminatory.” The debate has also exposed rifts within the French government, with some ministers expressing doubts about the bill despite its strong support from hard-right politicians.
The issue gained national attention when Eberena confronted President Macron about the law on a live television broadcast. Macron has supported the ban in competitions, aligning with the Olympic Charter, which he interprets as prohibiting religious symbols. However, he also mentioned the need for “pragmatism” at the federation level. Several federations, including football, basketball, and volleyball, have already implemented their own bans.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has a different view, stating that while the charter prohibits religious propaganda, it also forbids religious discrimination. The IOC’s stance puts France in a unique position, as it was the only European country to ban the hijab for its female athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
