Sport for everyone: Why the headscarf ban discriminates!

Sport for everyone: Why the headscarf ban discriminates!

The time for changes is now! The fight against the headscarf ban in sports in France is in full swing!

Imagine you are a passionate athlete who wants to plunge to the field, but is prevented from a discriminatory ban on it! This is exactly the reality for many women in France who wear a headscarf. The author, who is affected herself, tells of her painful path and the tireless struggle for equality and recognition.

The memories of their childhood are characterized by deprivation. Sport was an unattainable dream for her, because her skin disease Eczema made her suffer with every physical exertion. But at the university she took the step back into life and registered for various sports courses. Badminton and archery were her first steps and she began to connect to her body. But the dream of the boxing ring was brutally destroyed when the trainer dismissed her because of her turban.

a struggle for rights and identity

The struggle that she leads is not just a personal one, but a collective outcry against the discrimination against Muslims in France. "Laicity" - a term that promises freedom and neutrality is often used as an excuse to deny women access to sport and public spaces. The French sports associations have joined this and forbid the wearing of religious symbols, including the headscarf, in many sports.

The author describes how she, despite her efforts to become active in a volleyball club, has once again reached the limits of her freedom. The coach informed her that she could train but could not take part in the competition - a decision based on a law that only came into force after her registration. Such regulations are not only unfair, they also lead to a deep feeling of humiliation and isolation.

The summer Olympics in Paris brought the hypocrisy of the headscarf ban into the international spotlight. French athletes who wear a headscarf were excluded from the games, which opened the racist discrimination in sports. A report by Amnesty International made it clear that these bans violate international laws and violate rights to freedom of expression and practice.

A call to solidarity

The voices against these injustices become louder. UN experts have condemned French laws as "disproportionate and discriminatory" and demand their cancellation. Despite the international pressure, two draft laws that strive for a general ban on the headscarf in sport were brought in in the French parliament. But the author and many others get up and fight against these outrageous suggestions.

"We have to stand together and defend our rights!" She calls. Organizations such as Amnesty International and the feminist groups in which they are active are crucial in the fight against this gender -based Islamophobia. It is not about politics or religion, but about the basic human right to take part in sport.

The author thanks the brave collective who is committed to inclusion in sports and emphasizes that this struggle is important for all women. Together they create spaces of solidarity and resistance to this obvious discrimination.

The author's last name was not published for reasons of data protection and security.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial attitude of Al Jazera.