“Historic Olympic Moment: Hijab-Wearing Gold Medalist Sparks Controversy and Defiance in France’s Xenophobia Debate!”
Last September, French Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera announced that athletes representing France at the Paris Games would not be allowed to wear the hijab in line with the country’s secularism principle and rules against displaying religious symbols at sporting events, The Express reported on Sunday.
She wore a hijab at the closing ceremony on Sunday (August 11)
Image credits: Jamie Squire/Getty
The French Sports Ministry reportedly later clarified that athletes were allowed to wear hijabs in public and at the Olympic Village, though they couldn’t don the headwear during competitions.
The rule was swiftly met with a strong wave of backlash, as The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation argued: “This ban contradicts the principles of equality, inclusivity, and respect for cultural diversity that the Olympics stand for.”
Amnesty International labeled the Hijab ban as “discriminatory” and “hypocritical,” ITVX reported last month.
The human rights organization reportedly highlighted how banning the hijab was particularly jarring considering the 2024 Olympics was labeled as the first gender-equal Olympics — yet Muslim women were being discriminated against and singled out.
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Nevertheless, athletes from other countries were allowed to wear the hijab, as the International Olympic Committee left the decision to individual sports federations.
