UN Experts Urge France to Lift Hijab Ban in Sports to Uphold Human Rights

The French football and basketball federations have implemented rules that exclude athletes wearing the hijab from competitions, including amateur levels.

UN experts have called on France to reverse discriminatory measures that prohibit women and girls from wearing the hijab while participating in sports. They emphasized that these actions violate France's international human rights obligations and infringe on the rights of individuals to express their identity and beliefs.

The French football and basketball federations have implemented rules that exclude athletes wearing the hijab from competitions, including amateur levels. Additionally, the French Government has decided that athletes wearing the hijab cannot represent the country at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. The experts described these decisions as disproportionate and discriminatory, undermining the rights of Muslim women and girls to freely manifest their religion or beliefs in both private and public settings.

“Muslim women and girls who wear the hijab must have equal rights to participate in cultural and sporting life, and to take part in all aspects of French society of which they are a part,” the experts asserted.

Despite France's claims of promoting inclusion, the experts noted a lack of action to ensure that the bans imposed by sports federations are proportionate and legally justified. They criticized the assertion that state neutrality and secularism can be used to justify restrictions on freedom of expression and religion. The experts stressed that any limitations must be necessary, proportionate, and supported by demonstrable facts rather than mere assumptions or prejudices.

The Conseil d'État's recent decision regarding the French football federation, along with a bill proposed to the Senate in March 2024, reinforces these discriminatory measures. The experts argue that these developments suggest that wearing the hijab in public may be viewed as a breach of public order, further marginalizing Muslim women and girls.

In light of rising intolerance and stigma against those who wear the hijab, the experts urged France to take proactive measures to protect the rights of these individuals. They called for promoting equality and mutual respect for cultural diversity as essential components of a just society.

The experts have engaged in dialogue with the French Government regarding this issue, which has also been highlighted in reports presented at the UN General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights. They emphasized that the right to participate in sports and public life without discrimination is fundamental to fostering an inclusive society.