France Bans Hijab for National Olympic Team, Sparking Secularism Debate

French athletes will not be able to wear the veil during the Olympic Games. Invited on the set of Dimanche en politique on France 3, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra affirmed that France remains attached "to a strict regime of secularism". "This means the prohibition of any form of proselytism, the absolute neutrality of the public service," explained the Minister of Sports. The representatives of our delegations in our French teams will not wear the veil."

A position contrary to that of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "The IOC, which governs the rules of participation, is on a logic that consists of apprehending the wearing of the veil not as a cultic factor but as a cultural factor. It relies on the provisions of the International Federations, which are not all the same in this regard. There will be heterogeneity between sports," explained the Minister of Sports.

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France’s position on the wearing of the veil during the 2024 Paris Olympics has not failed to provoke reactions on social networks. On the web, calls for a boycott of the event have gained momentum. Some Internet users believe that sporting events should not have the authority to ban religious symbols, especially when they do not interfere with the competition.

Despite the FIFA decision dating back to 2014 on the issue, the wearing of the hijab is prohibited in France on football pitches. In June, the Council of State rejected the request of the Hijabeuses - a collective of Muslim players who were demanding the cancellation of Article 1 of the French Football Federation (FFF) regulations which has prohibited since 2016 the wearing of any "sign or outfit ostensibly manifesting a political, philosophical, religious or trade union affiliation".