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Rabat – UN experts called on France to eliminate discriminatory measures that bar women and girls who choose to wear the hijab from participating in sports, asserting the country’s obligation to uphold international human rights standards in a press release issued on Monday.
The experts criticized the decisions by French football and basketball federations to exclude players wearing the hijab from competitions, including amateur levels, along with the French government’s position preventing hijab-wearing athletes from representing the nation at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
They deemed these actions disproportionate and discriminatory, stating that they violate individuals’ rights to freely express their identity and religious beliefs, both privately and publicly.
“Muslim girls and women who wear the hijab must have equal rights to participate in cultural and sporting life, as well as in all aspects of French society,” the experts stated.
Lack of proportionality in restrictions
The experts pointed out that, despite France’s claim in December of 2023 about its commitment to inclusion, no steps have been taken to ensure that the bans imposed by sports federations are proportionate and legally justified according to international human rights standards.
“Any limitation of these freedoms must be proportionate, necessary to achieve specific goals recognized in international law (such as security and public order), and supported by demonstrable facts rather than assumptions, hypotheses, or prejudices,” they asserted.
They also noted that the Council of State’s decision regarding the French football federation, along with a proposed law submitted to the Senate in March 2024, not only reinforces discriminatory practices in sports but also implies that public displays of the hijab—an expression of legitimate identity and belief—might be treated as a breach of public order.
“In a context of intolerance and significant stigmatization toward women and girls who choose to wear the hijab, France must take all necessary measures to protect them, ensure their rights, and promote equality and mutual respect for cultural diversity,” the experts added.
The UN experts include Alexandra Xanthaki, Nicolas Levrat, Nazila Ghanea, Laura Nyirinkindi, Claudia Flores, Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, as well as Haina Lu from the UNHCR Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.
