A consortium of sports federations representing Muslim-majority countries has strongly criticized France’s decision to prohibit its Olympic athletes from wearing the hijab, asserting that it conveys a message of exclusion. The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), comprised of 57 member nations and headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, expressed profound unease regarding France’s move, aligning it with the country’s stringent secularism regulations.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera announced last month that the French government vehemently opposes the display of religious symbols during sporting events, emphasizing the necessity for absolute neutrality in public services. She explicitly stated that the French national team would not permit the wearing of the headscarf.
In response, the ISSF issued a statement affirming that the hijab represents an integral aspect of many Muslim women’s identity and merits respect. Furthermore, they contended that the ban imposed by France could potentially obstruct the participation of certain French Muslim athletes in international competitions.
The ISSF’s statement underlined the historical celebration of diversity, unity, and athletic excellence within the Olympics, asserting that implementing a hijab ban would contradict the spirit of the Games and convey a message of exclusion, intolerance, and discrimination. The federation urged French authorities to reconsider their ban and encouraged constructive dialogue with the Muslim sports community in France.
Established in 1985, the ISSF serves members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and supports various aspects of sports activities. The organization has organized multiple editions of the Islamic Solidarity Games, including the most recent event held in Turkey last year.
While the UN human rights office has not directly addressed France’s hijab ban for its athletes, a spokeswoman asserted last week that no one should impose clothing choices on women, emphasizing the importance of personal freedom in attire decisions.
