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France is the only country to have adopted a ban on religious head coverings.
SPORT – « Rules that penalize women and girls who wish to wear the headscarf violate their fundamental rights. This is what Amnesty International denounces, which published a report on July 16 on ” human rights violations against Muslim women and girls caused by the ban on headscarves in sport In France “.
The NGO is once again calling on the French authorities to ” DELETE ” and of « refrain from discriminating against Muslim athletes in sports practice”particularly during the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, which start on July 26. Because the French position on this subject is non-negotiable.
« The representatives of our delegations, in our French teams, will not wear the veil during the 2024 Olympic Games “, declared Amélie Oudéa-Castera on September 24 on France 3. The position of the Minister of Sports, which is not that of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), highlights, according to Amnesty “a very French concept of wearing a sports scarf”, which contrasts with those of the other competing countries.
“Against the grain of international regulations”
Amnesty studied basketball, football and volleyball federations in 38 European countries and highlights that France is the only country to have adopted a ban on religious head coverings, either in national laws or in specific sports regulations. This is despite the fact that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) have authorised them.
« The French Federations which prohibit the wearing of the headscarf thus appear to be going against international regulations and isolated on the sporting scene. “, recalls the NGO. In September 2023, the United Nations (UN) had openly criticized the French government on this subject, in the context of the Olympic Games in Paris, recalling that “No one should dictate to a woman what she should or should not wear.”.
Carla Paris 2024 Olympic Charter contains this message: “Together we can combat prejudices to enable women to take full part in the sporting life of our country”However, the consequences of this very French ban contribute on the contrary, according to the NGO, to the reinforcement of prejudices, racial and gender discrimination, against Muslim sportswomen who wear the headscarf.
« These measures are all the more relevant in a context of increasing hate speech in France stigmatizing Muslim people and particularly women and girls wearing the headscarf. “, warns Amnesty. A finding shared in particular by the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), UN experts and the Defender of Rights.
And “deterrent effect” with sportswomen
Although there are no figures on the direct impact of these sports regulations, the NGO estimates, based on the collection of numerous testimonies, that they create ” a “chilling effect” making women and girls wearing religious clothing who want to play sports feel that they cannot do so freely and discouraging them from even trying”.
Amnesty describes players, regardless of their level of competition, “face uncertainty, anxiety and even public humiliation when they are sidelined on match days.” “Several players have stopped playing the sport altogether,” can be read in the report.
The collective of Hijabeuses, female football players wearing headscarves who are campaigning against the ban on head coverings in competitions, had brought legal action against the French Football Federation (FFF) before the Council of State in 2021. The latter concluded in June 2023 that the ban was legitimate in order to:“avoid any clash or confrontation”.
A decision on which the French government is relying, and which Amnesty considers to be non-compliant. to international human rights law “. Many studies highlight the low representation of women and girls in amateur and professional sport, for various reasons – difficulties in reconciling family life, work and sport, harassment, gender-based violence. The ban on wearing the veil is one more.
« If France wants to promote gender equality in sport, it must let women, all women, dress as they want. ” concludes Amnesty.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.fr
