French Muslim Rugby Players Face Ban Over Hijabs in New Bill

Since February 18, a bill passed in the Senate directly threatens the future of the girls of AC Bobigny 93. This text prohibits "any sign or attire ostensibly manifesting a political or religious affiliation" during departmental, regional, and national competitions and will soon be debated in the National Assembly, reports Le Courrier de l’Atlas.

Faced with this threat, these rugby players are haunted by the prospect of being forced to stop their favorite sport one day. "If this law passes, I will no longer be able to play rugby. If this law passes, it will isolate many women who want to be free to play sports while practicing their religion," worries a player from the Bobigny rugby club.

Another team member displays the determination of veiled players to continue their sport, in peace. "The girls who wear the veil are not here to claim anything, they are here to play, progress, help their team win, and fully live their passion, like everyone else," she says. The leaders of AC Bobigny 93 have also commented on the text. They lean towards sport remaining a space of freedom.

"I believe that our way of functioning shows that it is possible to reconcile individual freedom and collective work. Sport, as a social model, should reflect this spirit of inclusion. Society as a whole could largely draw inspiration from it," says a club official.

This text clearly shows the French government’s desire to ban the veil in sports competitions forever. The Minister of the Interior confirmed it in these terms: "Long live sport, and therefore down with the veil, of course."