Sports ban for Muslimas: The fight against discrimination in France!

Sports ban for Muslimas: The fight against discrimination in France!

Injustice must have an end: Hijab bans in sports are discriminatory and violate human rights!

In France it is bubbling! Muslim women and girls are in the crosshairs of shocking discrimination, which refuses to do sports. The debate about wearing religious headdresses, especially the hijab, triggered a wave of outrage. It is time to rise against this injustice!

The personal story of a person concerned is heartbreaking. She tells of her childhood, in which she was excluded from Sport due to skin problems. But at the university she decided to break this vicious circle. She ventured into the world of sport, registered for badminton and archery and slowly found her body again. But the dream of the boxing ring was suddenly ended - the coach rejected her due to her turban. A clear case of discrimination!

The shocking facts

Reality is bitter: In France, Muslim women are not even allowed to wear the clothes they want in their free time. The French Volleyball Federation (FFVB) has introduced a rule that forbids wearing religious symbols, including the hijab. But that's not all! This regulation only came into force in September after the person concerned had already submitted their registration for amateur competitions. A clear violation of your rights!

The supposed "laicity" - a principle that is supposed to protect religious freedom is used here as an excuse to deny Muslim women access to sport and public spaces. These discriminatory laws are not only unfair, they are also an attack on identity and well -being of the women concerned. The consequences are devastating: many withdraw from sport, suffer from psychological stress and feel like second -class people.

an international outcry

The world looks at France! During the Olympic Games in Paris, the hypocrisy of the Hijab bans became particularly clear. French athletes who wear headscarves were excluded from participation. In a report, Amnesty International has made it clear that these regulations violate international law. France is the only country in Europe that enforces such strict bans against religious headgear in sports!

The United Nations also spoke out and convicted the Bans as "disproportionate and discriminatory". The UN experts demand a withdrawal of these laws and appeal to France to protect the rights of Muslim women. However, despite the international pressure, two drives were submitted last year to further tighten Hijab bans in sports in the French parliament. A scandal!

But the person concerned does not give up! Together with other activists such as Amnesty International and the collective against Islamophobia in Europe, she is fighting for her rights. "We have to stand together and defend ourselves against these injustices!" She calls. The solidarity among women who work for inclusion in sports is strong. Initiatives such as Hijabeuses and Sport Pour Toutes show that the struggle for equality and respect in sport is not only necessary, but also possible.

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

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