Criticism from UN over France’s 2024 Olympics athlete hijab ban

UN Criticizes French Government’s Ban on Hijab at Paris Olympics

The United Nations’ human rights office has raised concerns over the decision of the French government to prohibit French athletes from wearing the hijab during the upcoming Paris Olympics. According to Maria Hurtado, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is unacceptable to impose restrictions on what women can or cannot wear.

Hurtado emphasizes that international standards dictate that limitations on religious expressions or attire choices should only be imposed under specific circumstances relating to public safety, order, health, or morals. The committee against discrimination towards women states that France has an obligation to address social and cultural norms rooted in gender inequality by taking appropriate measures.

This criticism comes after Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French Sports Minister defended the ban as part of a strict secularism framework applied within sports. The minister argues for neutrality in public service and prohibits any form of proselytizing.

French teams are now subject to principles of public service neutrality due to a court ruling upholding a ban on wearing hijabs during football games earlier this year. As per this ruling, individuals representing France in national or international sporting competitions are not allowed to demonstrate their religious affiliations through head coverings or any other accessories.

Oudéa-Castéra further explains that rules regarding athletes from different sports will vary based on decisions made by each respective international federation under IOC supervision. This means that there will be discrepancies among various sporting disciplines when it comes to enforcing such bans.