French Senate Bans Religious Symbols in Sports, Including Muslim Veil

Under the principles of secularism and neutrality, and with the support of the government, the Senate passed this law by 210 votes to 81. The text formally prohibits the wearing of the veil in all sports competitions, even at the amateur level. This law "adds a welcome brick to the edifice that together we must build for years against all forms of separatism," said François-Noël Buffet, minister delegate to Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, to Saphir News.

Obviously, the bill does not have unanimous support. Left-wing elected officials believe it discriminates against Muslim sportswomen. "By using this founding principle to serve your anti-Muslim narrative, you are only fueling confusion, approximations and stereotypes," criticized Patrick Kanner, president of the Socialist senators and former Minister of Sports. According to him, this measure will "undoubtedly lead to a devastating social exclusion for these women for whom sport is an essential channel of sociability, integration and physical and mental well-being."

In the same vein, Béatrice Barbusse, the vice-president of the French Handball Federation, supports that this ban will have "disastrous consequences for these women: loss of confidence, downgrading, anger." "While the stated goal is to ensure respect for the principle of ’secularism’, in practice these laws specifically target and disproportionately affect the rights of Muslim women and girls," confirms Anna Błuś, a specialist in gender justice in Europe at Amnesty International.

And to add: "By placing the wearing of the headscarf among the ’attacks on secularism’, which range from ’permissiveness’ to ’terrorism’, this legislation, if adopted, would fuel racism and reinforce the increasingly hostile environment faced by Muslims and those perceived as such in France." The text will soon be submitted to a vote in the National Assembly.