Amnesty International released a scathing report titled “We Can’t Breathe. We Can’t Even Do Sports Anymore,” accusing France of violating human rights by banning athletes from wearing headscarves in the upcoming Olympics.
The report highlights how this policy discriminates against Muslim women and girls, hindering their participation in sports at all levels.
“France’s ban on headscarves for athletes undermines their claims of achieving gender equality at the Olympics,” said Anna Błuś, a Women’s Rights Researcher at Amnesty International.
“This discriminatory rule violates the human rights of Muslim women and girls, hindering efforts to make sports more inclusive,” she added.
The report criticizes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for failing to pressure French authorities to reverse the ban. Amnesty International points out that the IOC’s inaction contradicts its own Human Rights Strategic Framework and commitments.
Adding to the controversy, France’s ban stands in stark contrast to the policies of other international sports bodies like FIFA and FIBA, which allow headscarves.
A survey by Amnesty International revealed that France is the only European country with such a ban, either through national law or sports regulations.
Muslim athletes expressed their disappointment with the policy. “The ban is a clear violation of the Olympic spirit and our fundamental rights,” said Hélène Bâ, a basketball player. “It’s shameful for France to block dreams over a piece of cloth.”
The report goes beyond the Olympics, highlighting how the headscarf ban extends to other sports in France, impacting participation at all levels. This, Amnesty International argues, discourages Muslim women from pursuing sports careers and denies them training opportunities crucial for reaching the Olympic level.
The report details the negative psychological impact of the ban, citing experiences of humiliation and exclusion.
“Mentally, it’s hard because you feel ostracized,” said another athlete identified as “B.” “Being forced to choose between sports and your faith is unacceptable.”
Amnesty International said that international law protects the right to freedom of expression and religion, making the French ban legally questionable.
The NGO said that France’s justification of secularism is misused to disproportionately target Muslim women.
“Our fight is purely about sports,” said Founé Diawara, co-president of the football collective Les Hijabeuses. “No one should dictate what a woman wears, and no woman should be forced to choose between her beliefs and her passion.”
The report concludes with a call to action, urging French authorities, sports federations, and the IOC to lift the headscarf ban, ensuring equal participation for Muslim women in French sports, both at the Olympics and beyond.
